Word Study of “Perfect” in Matt 5:48

Word Study of “Perfect” in Matt 5:48

Various Bible versions translate this word “perfect”

New International Version (©1984) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. New Living Translation (©2007) But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect. English Standard Version (©2001) You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. New American Standard Bible (©1995) "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. International Standard Version (©2008) So be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010) Be therefore perfect, just as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect. GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) That is why you must be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Don't Do Good Works to Be Praised by People King James 2000 Bible (©2003) Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. American King James Version Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. American Standard Version Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Bible in Basic English Be then complete in righteousness, even as your Father in heaven is complete. Douay-Rheims Bible Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect. Darby Bible Translation Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. English Revised Version Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Webster's Bible Translation Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. Weymouth New Testament You however are to be complete in goodness, as your Heavenly Father is complete. World English Bible Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Young's Literal Translation ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.

Occurrences of this word.

This word in this exact form occurs 19 times in 17 verses. In the ESV this word is translated 11 times as “perfect”, 7 times as “mature”, and once as “full”.

Mat 5:48 (twice in this verse: perfect, perfect), Mat 19:21 (perfect)
Rom 12:2 (perfect)
1Cor 2:6 (mature), 1Cor 13:10 (perfect), 1Cor 14:20 (mature)
Eph 4:13 (mature)
Phil 3:15 (mature)
Col 1:28 (mature), Col 4:12 (mature)Heb 5:14 (mature), Heb 9:11 (perfect)
Jam 1:4 (and twice in this verse “full” effect, perfect), Jam 1:17 (perfect), Jam 1:25 (perfect), Jam 3:2 (perfect)
1Jo 4:18 (perfect)

So about 40% of the time it is translated something other than “perfect”.

The books where this word is used the most are James (24%) and 1 Cor (18%).

Various Dictionary and Reference Works

The word translated “perfect” in Matt 5:48 is “teleios” (τέλειος ) in the Greek.

Strong's Number 5046 in the New Testament dictionary. The entry in Strong's dictionary reads: 5046 teleios tel'-i-os from telos, 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect. see GREEK for 5056 see GREEK for 3588

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words:

"complete, perfect," from telos, "an end," is translated "of full age" in Hbr 5:14, AV (RV, "full-grown man").

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament:

Perfect (τελειο). The word comes from τελος, end, goal, limit. Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father. The word is used also for relative perfection as of adults compared with children.

Thayer's Greek Definitions:

- Original: τέλειος

- Transliteration: Teleios

- Phonetic: tel'-i-os

- Definition:

1. brought to its end, finished

2. wanting nothing necessary to completeness

3. perfect

4. that which is perfect

a. consummate human integrity and virtue

b. of men

1. full grown, adult, of full age, mature

Barnes' New Testament Notes:

Matthew 5:48:

Verse 48. Be ye therefore perfect, he concludes this part of the discourse by commanding his disciples to be perfect. This word commonly means finished, complete, pure, holy. Originally it is applied to a piece of mechanism, as a machine that is complete in its parts. Applied to men, it refers to completeness of parts, or perfection, when no part is defective or wanting. Thus Job (Job 1:1) is said to be perfect; that is, not holy as God, or sinless--for fault is afterwards found with him, (Job 9:20, 42:6) but his piety was proportionate--had a completeness of parts--was consistent and regular, he exhibited his religion as a prince, a father, an individual, a benefactor of the poor. He was not merely a pious man in one place, but uniformly. He was consistent everywhere. This was the meaning in Matthew. Be not religious merely in loving your friends and neighbors, but let your piety be shown in loving your enemies; be perfect; imitate God; let the piety be complete, and proportionate, and regular. This every Christian may be; this every Christian must be.
(m) "Be ye therefore perfect" Gen 17:1, De 18:13, Lk 6:36,40, Co 1:28

Scofield Reference Notes:

perfect

The word implies full development, growth into maturity of godliness, not sinless perfection. Eph 4:12,13. In this passage the Father's kindness, not His sinlessness, is the point in question. Lk 6:35,36

Personal Comments

I found Barnes' Notes as well as Scofield's notes to helpful with this verse. Pointing out that it is not God's sinless perfection that is in view but rather His Fatherhood. We are then not being asked to be “perfect” in exact duplication of God but rather to be “grown up” “mature” children displaying attributes consistent with our family heritage as children of God, we should naturally have more love than just for our friends.

1 Jn 2:5 gives some practical insight. “but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:”

Keeping His word = perfected love = assurance that we are His.