Study of the word perfect (mature) as it is used in English translations of Scripture clarifies much of the process of practical attitude and growth related to Christian life. It also serves as an example of any error we might make in resting important intellectual and spiritual concerns in the current use of language only, and testing emerging meanings with originals. This concerns Christians believing in the inspiration of Scripture – that its meaning be known and defined from original definitions. Even The American Heritage Dictionary noted the problem and added a notation after an extensive list of definitions for the word perfect: In absolute senses, perfect and perfectly cannot correctly be used in the comparative and superlative. However, when used in senses that only approach the absolute or that simply denote excellence,.(sic) the comparative and superlative are standard. (Perhaps the word perfect is being tested here in that I follow my style of italicizing a quotation, and reversing the italicized perfect and perfectly from the dictionary italics to standard print above. Also, the editors from the publisher, Houghton Mifflin a first line publisher, did not catch the period following the comma appearing after ‘excellence,.(sic) above – which is not excellent. Further, the usage statement quoted might have been clearer. An editor was needed.)
In faithful Bible study we want to know the original and continuing meaning for the words used by the biblical writers. In translation there may be something lost, and the careful translator wants to reduce any deviation to minimum. We want a perfect text if we can get it, but our best goal is the truthful meaning, especially as it relates to eternal conceptions. Even the perfect text may have something misperceived in it that has nothing to do with authors and editors from the beginning of their work. A missionary translator could not use the important reference to heart to declare objective Christian experience in that the heart in that tribe related to negatives. To suggest that God will give to us the desires of our hearts was changed to the desires of the liver, an analogy meaning to the tribe what the context of the original language attributes to the heart. One of the first objections to Scripture and Christianity that I heard as a young person was that the heart did not register the revelation of anything to the understanding. The brain made us aware of the action and intended meaning. Therefore: The biblical statement about the heart registering the desire for prayer was declared an error. There was no discussion about language usage, or that there is an emphasis that relies on a deeper involvement than cerebral acquiescence alone. The brain is our depot for truth.
Scripture teaches a perfection of truth, love, maturity, ideals, direction, finishing, performing, labor, completeness, – even restore, repair, and mend. It carries a meaning of thoroughness in it. God is perfect, not in the meaning of perfect in process that leaves some room for something even better, but in his holiness. We use the word perfect when we might do better to refer to his holiness as ultimate model. He is the only perfectly holy person, with the exception of those persons and entities that he makes holy. To make up for the inability of righteousness in human beings to match his holiness, he offers justification. Justification is the attribution of the holiness of Jesus Christ to his followers until such time that it is vouchsafed to the children of God in the final denouement. In the meantime, between now and that mystery moment, it is perfect for the Christian to gain a spiritual perfection that offers practical maturity in mortal life. Righteousness in human beings is not perfect in the absolute – only God is absolute in all that he is. His holiness is reflected in our growth (maturing) in righteousness. The goal is to ultimately make the Christian perfectly Christ-like in self and character. In that we are declared perfect moving forward in God’s will and plan for life. It is perfect because there is nothing better at this point in our time period. The use of the word perfect can imply spiritual perfection to the most idealistic context, or it could refer to imperfection: That man committed the perfect crime. Our prayer is for the objective good and desirable context that God wants for us. Seeking in Scripture, prayer and experience is the mature spiritual pattern to be ultimately finalized. God’s law is perfect, but his goal is perfected when it becomes a part of our being, and is sought without resistance in the redeemed nature he has illustrated for his children. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020