XPost: alt.christnet.christianlife, alt.bible.prophecy, alt.messianic   
   XPost: alt.religion.christian.east-orthodox   
   From: dr.who@biosphere.orb   
      
   It is very interesting what the word translated as "perfect" in the Bible   
   actually means. After all Abraham was considered to be perfect, and he   
   married his half sister, slept with her servant. Then there was King David   
   who was considered perfect by the Lord, and we all know of his many errors   
   made in his life.   
      
   I know that in my understanding that the word perfect meant flawless, beyond   
   being good, never an error, etc. However, in thinking about "perfect" I   
   realized that I know that I have designed and built things to fulfill a   
   purpose, whether it be to temporarily fix a problem, to fulfill a need, and   
   sometimes just a desire to have something special either to give to someone,   
   or just for me. Things I considered perfect yet I knew its weak points   
   whether it be the metallurgy, or the limits of its capabilities, yet for the   
   job or purpose it was created for it was indeed perfect and something to be   
   proud of.   
      
   Jesus commanded us as Born Again Believers to be perfect as our Heavenly   
   Father is perfect.   
      
   I thought it was time to bring to light the understanding of the word   
   perfect,   
   as used by God, in both the old and New testaments. what it means and how it   
   applied to both men and God. It will require some thoughtful meditation to   
   understand as you struggle to shake off what men typically think of, as   
   perfection and then it will become clear as we renew our minds per Jesus   
   Christ. We are commanded to be renewed in our minds. as we were raised and   
   grew up thinking in ungodly ways, without righteousness. And so we must   
   growas all babies do, in the Lord, that we might be complete in him.   
      
   “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing   
   of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and   
   perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)   
      
   “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (Eph 4:23)   
      
   While as Born Again Believers we are indeed made the righteousness of God   
   spiritually, we must grow into that understanding via the reading of the   
   word, and listening to the Holy Spirit, so that our minds will grow up into   
   the fullness and completeness of our Heavenly Father as he desires.   
      
   Here are a few samples, both old and new, with the the definitions below.   
      
   OT Verses.   
      
   “These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in   
   his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen 6:9)   
      
   “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to   
   Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou   
   perfect.” (Gen 17:1)   
      
   “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a   
   buckler to all them that trust in him.” (2Sa 22:31)   
      
   NT Verses   
      
   “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is   
   perfect.” (Mat 5:48)   
      
   “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing   
   of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and   
   perfect, will of God.” (Rom 12:2)   
      
   *************************************************   
   "Perfect" OT style   
      
   H8549(Ancient Hebrew)H8549 = AHLB# 1496-B (b) 1496)   
      
   Mt% (Mt% TM) ac: Fill co: ? ab: Whole: Someone or something that is whole,   
   complete or full. One who is mature and upright as one who is whole.   
      
   BDB Hebrew lexicon   
      
   תּמים   
      
   tâmı̂ym   
      
   BDB Definition:   
      
   1) complete, whole, entire, sound   
      
   1a) complete, whole, entire   
      
   1b) whole, sound, healthful   
      
   1c) complete, entire (of time)   
      
   1d) sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity   
      
   1e) what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact (neuter   
   adjective/substantive)   
      
   Part of Speech: adjective   
   Strong's   
      
   תָּמִים   
      
   tâmı̂ym   
      
   taw-meem'   
      
   From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun)   
   integrity, truth: - without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely   
   (-ity), sound, without spot, undefiled, upright (-ly), whole.   
      
   *********************************************** "   
      
   Perfect" NT Style.   
      
   G5046(Strong)   
      
   τέλειος   
      
   teleios   
      
   tel'-i-os   
      
   From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and   
   moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of   
   full   
   age, man, perfect.   
      
   G5046(Thayer)   
      
   τέλειος   
      
   teleios   
      
   Thayer Definition:   
      
   1) brought to its end, finished   
      
   2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness   
      
   3) perfect   
      
   4) that which is perfect   
      
   4a) consummate human integrity and virtue   
      
   4b) of men   
      
   4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature   
      
   Part of Speech: adjectivedjective   
      
   Strong's   
      
   תָּמִים   
      
   tâmı̂ym   
      
   taw-meem'   
      
   From H8552; entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as   
   noun)   
      
   integrity, truth: - without blemish, complete, full, perfect,   
   sincerely   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)