Perfection

Perfection in Scripture carries a range of meanings related to completion, wholeness, and moral maturity rather than sinless absolute perfection. The Hebrew tamim (blameless, whole) and Greek teleios (complete, mature, fully developed) both emphasize completeness of purpose and character. God commands Abraham to "walk before me and be blameless" and Jesus commands his hearers to "be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Paul distinguishes between the already-perfect position of believers in Christ and the ongoing maturation of practical holiness toward which they press. The Hebrews epistle presents Christ as the one who has been made perfect through suffering and who perfectly accomplishes what the Levitical system could not.