What does the bible say about being perfect?

Answer 1

The word "perfect" (or variations of perfect) is found in 48 scriptures in the New International Version:

# Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:3-5 (in Context) Deuteronomy 32 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Samuel 22:31

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

2 Samuel 22:30-32 (in Context) 2 Samuel 22 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Samuel 22:33

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

2 Samuel 22:32-34 (in Context) 2 Samuel 22 (Whole Chapter) # Job 36:4

Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.

Job 36:3-5 (in Context) Job 36 (Whole Chapter) # Job 37:16

Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?

Job 37:15-17 (in Context) Job 37 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 18:30

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18:29-31 (in Context) Psalm 18 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 18:32

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.

Psalm 18:31-33 (in Context) Psalm 18 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 19:7

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Psalm 19:6-8 (in Context) Psalm 19 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 50:2

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Psalm 50:1-3 (in Context) Psalm 50 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 64:6

They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfectplan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

Psalm 64:5-7 (in Context) Psalm 64 (Whole Chapter) # Psalm 119:96

To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.

Psalm 119:95-97 (in Context) Psalm 119 (Whole Chapter) # Song of Solomon 6:9

but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her.

Song of Solomon 6:8-10 (in Context) Song of Solomon 6 (Whole Chapter) # Isaiah 25:1

[ Praise to the LORD ] O LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 25:1-3 (in Context) Isaiah 25 (Whole Chapter) # Isaiah 26:3

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:2-4 (in Context) Isaiah 26 (Whole Chapter) # Lamentations 2:15

All who pass your way clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at the Daughter of Jerusalem: "Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?"

Lamentations 2:14-16 (in Context) Lamentations 2 (Whole Chapter) # Ezekiel 16:14

And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD.

Ezekiel 16:13-15 (in Context) Ezekiel 16 (Whole Chapter) # Ezekiel 27:3

Say to Tyre, situated at the gateway to the sea, merchant of peoples on many coasts, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'You say, O Tyre, "I am perfect in beauty."

Ezekiel 27:2-4 (in Context) Ezekiel 27 (Whole Chapter) # Ezekiel 27:4

Your domain was on the high seas; your builders brought your beauty to perfection.

Ezekiel 27:3-5 (in Context) Ezekiel 27 (Whole Chapter) # Ezekiel 27:11

Men of Arvad and Helech manned your walls on every side; men of Gammad were in your towers. They hung their shields around your walls; they brought your beauty to perfection.

Ezekiel 27:10-12 (in Context) Ezekiel 27 (Whole Chapter) # Ezekiel 28:12

"Son of man, take up a lament concerning the king of Tyre and say to him: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

Ezekiel 28:11-13 (in Context) Ezekiel 28 (Whole Chapter) # Matthew 5:48

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:47-48 (in Context) Matthew 5 (Whole Chapter) # Matthew 19:21

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Matthew 19:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 19 (Whole Chapter) # Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:1-3 (in Context) Romans 12 (Whole Chapter) # 1 Corinthians 1:10

[ Divisions in the Church ] I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.

1 Corinthians 1:9-11 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 1 (Whole Chapter) # 1 Corinthians 13:10

but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

1 Corinthians 13:9-11 (in Context) 1 Corinthians 13 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

2 Corinthians 7:1-3 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 7 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Corinthians 11:6

I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way.

2 Corinthians 11:5-7 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 11 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 12 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Corinthians 13:9

We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection.

2 Corinthians 13:8-10 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 13 (Whole Chapter) # 2 Corinthians 13:11

[ Final Greetings ] Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:10-12 (in Context) 2 Corinthians 13 (Whole Chapter) # Philippians 3:12

[ Pressing on Toward the Goal ] Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians 3:11-13 (in Context) Philippians 3 (Whole Chapter) # Colossians 1:28

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Colossians 1:27-29 (in Context) Colossians 1 (Whole Chapter) # Colossians 3:14

And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Colossians 3:13-15 (in Context) Colossians 3 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 2:10

In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.

Hebrews 2:9-11 (in Context) Hebrews 2 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 5:9

and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

Hebrews 5:8-10 (in Context) Hebrews 5 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 7:11

[ Jesus Like Melchizedek ] If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come-one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?

Hebrews 7:10-12 (in Context) Hebrews 7 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 7:19

(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

Hebrews 7:18-20 (in Context) Hebrews 7 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 7:28

For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Hebrews 7:27-28 (in Context) Hebrews 7 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 9:11

[ The Blood of Christ ] When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.

Hebrews 9:10-12 (in Context) Hebrews 9 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 10:1

[ Christ's Sacrifice Once for All ] The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming-not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.

Hebrews 10:1-3 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 10:14

because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Hebrews 10:13-15 (in Context) Hebrews 10 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 11:40

God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39-40 (in Context) Hebrews 11 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 12:2

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter) # Hebrews 12:23

to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,

Hebrews 12:22-24 (in Context) Hebrews 12 (Whole Chapter) # James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:16-18 (in Context) James 1 (Whole Chapter) # James 1:25

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:24-26 (in Context) James 1 (Whole Chapter) # James 3:2

We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never At Fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

James 3:1-3 (in Context) James 3 (Whole Chapter) # 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:17-19 (in Context) 1 John 4 (Whole Chapter)

Answer 2

The Bible says that nobody is perfect:

Romans 3:10-12 As the Scriptures say: "There is no one who is righteous, no one who is wise or who worships God. All have turned away from God; they have all gone wrong; no one does what is right, not even one.

ANOTHER ANSWER:

The King James Version says: "BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT, even as your Father which is in heaven is Perfect." (Matt.5:48)

But the context looks more into BECOMING COMPLETE, or GROWING INTO MATURITY; which makes "perfection" a GROWTH PROCESS.

[LIT] The Literal Bible: "be So, You MATURE ['teleios: complete... mental and moral character...' {Strong's Definitions}], as the Father of you the heavenly MATURE is."

[WEY] Weymouth's New Testament: "You however are to be COMPLETE IN GOODNESS, as you Heavenly Father is complete."

What modern professing Christianity seems to fail to understand and teach today is that MANKIND'S CREATION was only BEGUN in Genesis! Man's creation... while PHYSICALLY PERFECT... wasn't COMPLETE! Man's "sins" [his disobedience to God's Laws - I John 3:4] has caused the succeeding generations of man to degenerate and weaken in health and longevity.

But the SPIRIT which is IN man ["...the LORD, who... formed the spirit of man within humans." - Zech.12:1] has to undergo a MATURING PROCESS that requires the CHARACTER-BUILDING, character-development that only one's LIFE'S EXPERIENCES can teach each of us.

That's why the Bible speaks of our having to be REBORN a SECOND TIME... which the false religions of this world has turned into a shallow "emotional human experience," instead of the way the Bible portrays it as A REAL SECOND BIRTH, when, at some future time, our PHYSICAL BODIES will actually BE CHANGED into IMMORTAL SPIRIT ones!

"...let me tell you a WONDERFUL SECRET God has REVEALED TO US. Not all of us will die, but WE WILL ALL BE TRANSFORMED... And then we who are living WILL BE TRANSFORMED so that WE WILL NEVER DIE. For our perishable EARTHLY BODIES must BE TRANSFORMED INTO HEAVENLY BODIES that will never die. When this happens- when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die - then at last the Scriptures will come true [be fulfilled]: 'Death is swallowed up in victory'..." (I Cor.15:51-54 NLT).

Mankind's PERFECTION is COMING! It's the very HOPE of man's future [whether he knows it or not; which most men don't]. But it's a process, JUST LIKE THE PROCESS OF OUR FIRST BIRTH was a process. Our mother became pregnant, and she had to undergo PHYSICAL processes and procedures that insured the gestation and parturition of a healthy MORTAL child.

But, as the Bible says: "Man shall not LIVE by BREAD alone; but by EVERY WORD that PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD...". These mortal bodies of ours DIE.

It tells us that GOD'S BREAD -- HIS LIVING WORD... the taking in of the Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding of HIS TRUTH ["...thy WORD is TRUTH" - John 17:17] is what THE SPIRIT WITHIN EACH OF US requires as the Source of Nourishment that the spirit within us needs to GROW and DEVELOP into whatever PERFECT, IMMORTAL CHILD OF GOD that we SHALL BECOME one day... if we conform to the ways God's Word commands us to go, and come into OBEDIENCE to them.

"...'We ought to OBEY God rather than men.'" (Acts 5:29)

"...we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath GIVEN the them THAT OBEY HIM." (Acts 5:32)

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the Truth [God's Word - John 17:17]..." (Gal.3:1).

What people don't seem to know is that EVEN JESUS when He had humbled Himself to be born into this MORTAL EXISTENCE, which we now are; had to BECOME PERFECT, also:

"Though He were a Son, yet LEARNED HE OBEDIENCE by THE THINGS WHICH HE [and we] SUFFERED; and being MADE PERFECT [through THE FIRST IMMORTAL resurrection of many future brethren from the dead - Rom.8:29], He BECAME the AUTHOR OF ETERNAL SALVATION unto ALL THEM THAT OBEY HIM..." (Heb.5:8-9).

The Bible says that we are not yet perfect; but that our GOAL is to BECOME as PERFECT as our Father in heaven who FORMS THE SPIRIT WITHIN EACH OF US. And it's His Holy Spirit WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR 'OBEDIENT' SPIRIT [teaching us, guiding us in obedience to His Laws and Commandments], that shall one day result in our REBIRTH:

"The [Holy] Spirit itself beareth witness WITH OUR SPIRIT, that WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: and IF Children, then HEIRS; Heirs of God, and JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST; if so that WE SUFFER WITH HIM, that we may be also GLORIFIED TOGETHER. For I reckon that the sufferings of THIS PRESENT TIME are not worthy to be compared with the GLORY which SHALL BE REVEALED IN US... Because the creature itself also SHALL BE DELIVERED [as a child's parturition] from the bondage of corruption [mortality] into the Glorious LIBERTY of the CHILDREN OF GOD. For WE KNOW that the WHOLE CREATION GROANETH and TRAVAILETH in PAIN [birth pains] together until now. And not only they, but OURSELVES ALSO, which have the Firstfruits of the [Holy] Spirit, even WE OURSELVES GROAN within ourselves, WAITING for the ADOPTION [into God's Immortal Family], to wit, the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY. For we are SAVED BY HOPE: but Hope that is seen is not hope... But if we Hope for that we see not, then do we WITH PATIENCE WAIT FOR IT..." (Rom.8:16-25)

The Bible says that we aren't Perfect [COMPLETE]... YET... but through Obedience to the Word of God we can BECOME that way.

"EVERY SCRIPTURE [the Words by which man shall Live Eternally]... is... profitable for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, so that the MAN [Child] OF GOD may himself BE COMPLETE [Perfect], and COMPLETELY [perfectly] EQUIPPED for EVERY GOOD WORK." (II Tim.16-17 MNT Montgomery New Testament)