The term "perfectly" in the context of the Bible often relates to the idea of completeness, maturity, or wholeness in one's spiritual life and relationship with God. It is not necessarily about being without flaw, but rather about reaching a state of spiritual maturity and alignment with God's will.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the concept of perfection is often linked with the idea of being blameless or upright. For example, in Genesis 6:9, Noah is described as "a righteous man, blameless among his contemporaries; Noah walked with God." Here, the term "blameless" can be understood as living in a way that is fully aligned with God's expectations, which is a form of living perfectly in the sight of God.

New Testament Context

In the New Testament, the call to be perfect is more explicitly connected to spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ. Jesus Himself commands in Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." This verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus teaches about the deeper righteousness that surpasses that of the Pharisees. The perfection Jesus speaks of is about love and holiness, reflecting the character of God.

The Apostle Paul also addresses the concept of perfection in his letters. In Philippians 3:12-15, Paul writes, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things." Here, Paul acknowledges that perfection is a process and encourages believers to strive towards spiritual maturity.

Theological Implications

Theologically, the concept of perfection in the Bible is often associated with sanctification, the process by which believers are made holy through the work of the Holy Spirit. This process involves growing in love, faith, and obedience to God. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Paul prays, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." The word "completely" here is akin to being perfected in holiness.

Practical Application

For believers, striving for perfection involves a commitment to spiritual growth and a deepening relationship with God. It means living a life that reflects the character of Christ, marked by love, humility, and obedience. James 1:4 encourages believers, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." This maturity is the goal of the Christian life, achieved through perseverance and reliance on God's grace.

In summary, the biblical concept of "perfectly" encompasses the idea of spiritual maturity and completeness in Christ. It is a call to live a life that reflects God's holiness and love, continually growing in faith and obedience.(adv.) In a perfect manner or degree; in or to perfection; completely; wholly; thoroughly; faultlessly.197. akribesteron -- more perfectly.
... akribesteron. 198 . more perfectly. Transliteration: akribesteron Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-ree-bes'-ter-on) Short Definition: perfectly. ... more perfectly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/197.htm - 6k

1840. exischuo -- to have strength enough
... enough. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: exischuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ex-is-khoo'-o) Short Definition: I have strength for, am perfectly able Definition: ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1840.htm - 7k

5049. teleios -- completely
... completely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: teleios Phonetic Spelling:
(tel-i'-oce) Short Definition: perfectly Definition: perfectly, completely ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5049.htm - 6k

1552. ekdelos -- wholly evident
... wholly evident. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: ekdelos Phonetic Spelling:
(ek'-day-los) Short Definition: perfectly evident, manifest Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1552.htm - 7k

1295. diasozo -- to bring safely through (a danger), to save ...
... escape safely, heal, make perfectly whole, save. ... bring safe, escape (safe), heal,
make perfectly whole, save. see GREEK dia. see GREEK sozo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1295.htm - 8k

3173. megas -- great
... huge (1), large (8), larger (2), larger ones (1), long time (1), loud (42), mighty
(1), more important (2), older (1), one greater (1), perfectly (2), severe (2 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3173.htm - 8k

5051. teleiotes -- a completer, finisher
... In every scene of His earthly life, Jesus lived in faith, ie receiving and
perfectly obeying the inbirthing of the Father's will (). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5051.htm - 7k

199. akribos -- with exactness
... circumspectly, diligently, perfectly. Adverb from the same as akribestatos; exactly --
circumspectly, diligently, perfect(-ly). see GREEK akribestatos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/199.htm - 7k

3956. pas -- all, every
... 1), everyone* (1), everything (45), forever* (1), full (2), great (2), no* (15),
none* (1), nothing (1), nothing* (1), one (4), perfectly (1), quite (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3956.htm - 9k

1245. diakatharizo -- to cleanse thoroughly
... thoroughly purge. From dia and katharizo; to cleanse perfectly, ie (specially)
winnow -- thoroughly purge. see GREEK dia. see GREEK katharizo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1245.htm - 6k

998. binah -- an understanding
... knowledge, meaning, perfectly, understanding, wisdom. From biyn; understanding --
knowledge, meaning, X perfectly, understanding, wisdom. see HEBREW biyn. ...
/hebrew/998.htm - 6k

Hope Perfectly
... THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER HOPE PERFECTLY. 'Wherefore, gird up the loins
of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/hope perfectly.htm

Hence it is Perfectly Clear that Neither Words nor Singing if Used ...
... Of Prayer. John Calvin Chapter 31 Hence it is perfectly clear that neither
words nor singing if used in prayer are? Hence it is ...
/.../calvin/of prayer--a perpetual exercise of faith/chapter 31 hence it is.htm

God Alone Perfectly Good.
... Fundamental. Chapter 37. "God Alone Perfectly Good. 42. What harm, you ask,
would follow if those things too were perfectly good? Still ...
/.../chapter 37 name alone perfectly.htm

It is Perfectly Clear that no one Can Come Near the Purity of the ...
... II."Ascetic and Moral. Chapter XXI. It is perfectly clear that no one
can come near the purity of the Divine? It is perfectly ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter xxi it is perfectly.htm

Believers Can Perfectly Fulfill the Law, and Live in the World ...
... ARTICLE XXIX (IX.) Believers can perfectly fulfill the Law, and live in
the world without sin. Believers can perfectly fulfill the ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/article xxix ix believers can.htm

Is any Man Able Perfectly to Keep the Commandments of God?
... Question 82: Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? A82:
No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly ...
/.../anonymous/the westminster shorter catechism/question 82 0 0 is any man.htm

The Commandment of Love Shall be Perfectly Fulfilled in the Life ...
... Augustin to his holy brethren and fellow-bishops Eutropius and Paulus. (19.) The
Commandment of Love Shall Be Perfectly Fulfilled in the Life to Come. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/19 the commandment of love.htm

Thus You See How God Has Perfectly Pleased Me: it Ought Also to be ...
... THE FOURTH CENTURY 52 Thus you see how God has perfectly pleased me: it
ought also to be my care perfectly to please Him. Thus you ...
/.../traherne/centuries of meditations/52 thus you see how.htm

When Good Will be Perfectly Done.
... Book I. Chapter 32."When Good Will Be Perfectly Done. The apostle then
adds these words: "For I know that in me (that is, in my ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 32 when good will be.htm

Serapion: Everybody is Perfectly Agreed that There are Eight ...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter XVIII. Serapion: Everybody is perfectly
agreed that there are eight principal faults which affect a monk. ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter xviii serapion everybody is.htm

Perfectly (24 Occurrences)
...Perfectly (24 Occurrences). ... Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch
the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. ...
/p/perfectly.htm - 13k

Enquire (42 Occurrences)
... In Acts 23:15, "enquire something more perfectly" is substituted by "judge
more exactly." In Matthew 10:11, "search out" replaces it. ...
/e/enquire.htm - 21k

Lift (283 Occurrences)
... "Lift" is still perfectly good English, but not in all the senses in ... However, almost
all the uses are perfectly clear, and only the following need be noted. ...
/l/lift.htm - 41k

Flies (16 Occurrences)
... devoured them." There has been much speculation as to what the insects were, but
all the texts cited, including even Psalm 78:45, may apply perfectly well to ...
/f/flies.htm - 15k

Prey (105 Occurrences)
... When Job wanted to tell how perfectly the path to the gold mine was concealed, he
wrote, "That path no bird of prey knoweth" (Job 28:7). The inference is, that ...
/p/prey.htm - 42k

Shihor (5 Occurrences)
... point. This Shi-t-Hor, "Stream of Horus," makes perfectly clear and harmonious
the different references of Scripture to South. It ...
/s/shihor.htm - 10k

Perfection (30 Occurrences)
... shall himself perfect," margin "restore," for, "make you perfect" (1 Peter 5:10);
"perfecter" for "finisher" (Hebrews 12:2); "perfectly" is omitted in the ...
/p/perfection.htm - 25k

Lazarus (19 Occurrences)
... convicting acknowledgment? The dismay of the priests at the miracle and their
silence about it are perfectly compatible and natural. No ...
/l/lazarus.htm - 21k

Dreamer (4 Occurrences)
... Perhaps psychologically there can be no such thing as perfectly dreamless
sleep. Such a condition would probably be death itself. ...
/d/dreamer.htm - 18k

Fly (33 Occurrences)
... devoured them." There has been much speculation as to what the insects were, but
all the texts cited, including even Psalm 78:45, may apply perfectly well to ...
/f/fly.htm - 26k

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