Greek Word Perfect Essay

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WORD STUDY: PERFECT

As I was analyzing the passages where our Greek word is translated perfect (or some other related word), I found that it has several meanings. One of its meanings is something does not have any blemish or faults. This is what most people think of, but it is not the main meaning of the word. This word can also refer to someone who in spiritually mature or fully grown. This is why in the one verse it refers to men (verses children). It also has the meaning of something that is complete. There are two different senses to the meaning of complete. One of them refers to something that is done or finished. The other refers more to the sense of not lacking. The word perfect also carries the meaning of something that is fully developed. Next, we turn to outside sources. Here we are told that the word …show more content…

This means that the state of perfection Paul is talking about is a state that is possible to reach in this life. Also Paul says to be thus minded. This “thus” refers back to right before this phrase where Paul talks about pressing on, because we have not arrived yet. This means that those who are perfect still have to keep pressing on. Again we turn to outside sources, to help us. The word perfect in verse 15 has the meaning of someone who is mature or full grown. This is the meaning that says that someone is perfect when they are grounded spiritually and have become men instead of babies in Christ. Vine says that the word perfect refers “primarily to physical development, then with ethical import.”1 I found Davidson's New Bible Commentary to have an interesting view about when this perfection can be obtained. It says that “the fulfillment of our end is possible at various stages of experience.”2 This means that a child or a young person can be perfect. This perfection will be different from the perfection of a grown man, but nevertheless it is perfect for their stage of

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