The Biblical Demands of Perfection
Old Testament
“And after he began to be ninety and nine years old, the Lord appeared to [Abraham]: and said unto him: I am the Almighty God: walk before me, and be perfect.” -Genesis 17:1
“Thou shalt be perfect, and without spot before the Lord thy God.” -Deuteronomy 18:13
“The works of God are perfect, and all his ways are judgments: God is faithful and without any iniquity, he is just and right.” -Deuteronomy 32:4
“For to know thee is perfect justice: and to know thy justice, and thy power, is the root of immortality.” -Wisdom 15:3
“Perfect thou my goings in thy paths: that my footsteps be not moved.” -Psalm 16:5
New Testament
“Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” -Matthew 5:48
“Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me.” -Matthew 19:21
“And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias; that he may turn the hearts of the fathers unto the children, and the incredulous to the wisdom of the just, to prepare unto the Lord a perfect people.” -Luke 1:17
“The disciple is not above his master: but every one shall be perfect, if he be as his master.” -Luke 6:40
“But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.” - Luke 8:15
“Jesus saith to them: My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, that I may perfect his work.” -John 4:34
“I in them, and thou in me; that they may be made perfect in one: and the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast also loved me.” -John 17:23
“And be not conformed to this world; but be reformed in the newness of your mind, that you may prove what is the good, and the acceptable, and the perfect will of God.” -Romans 12:2
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms among you; but that you be perfect in the same mind, and in the same judgment.” -1 Corinthians 1:10
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting sanctification in the fear of God.” -2 Corinthians 7:1
“And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” -2 Corinthians 12:9
“For we rejoice that we are weak, and you are strong. This also we pray for, your perfection.” - 2 Corinthians 13:9
“For the rest, brethren, rejoice, be perfect, take exhortation, be of one mind, have peace; and the God of peace and of love shall be with you.” - 2 Cor 13:11
“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ; That henceforth we be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the wickedness of men, by cunning craftiness, by which they lie in wait to deceive.” -Ephesians 4:12-14
“Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect.” -Eph 6:13
“Being confident of this very thing, that he, who hath begun a good work in you, will perfect it unto the day of Christ Jesus.” -Phil 1:6
“Not as though I has already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus.” - Phil 3:12
“Whom we preach, admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” -Colossians 1:28
“But above all these things have charity, which is the bond of perfection: And let the peace of Christ rejoice in your hearts, wherein also you are called in one body: and be ye thankful.” - Col 3:14-15
“Epaphras saluteth you, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, who is always solicitous for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect, and full in all the will of God.” -Col 4:12
“All scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice, that the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.” -2 Timothy 3:16-17
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God, he might taste death for all. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one.” -Hebrews 2:9-11
“But strong meat is for the perfect; for them who by custom have their senses exercised to the discerning of good and evil.” -Hebrews 5:14
“Wherefore leaving the word of the beginning of Christ, let us go on to things more perfect, not laying again the foundation of penance from dead works, and of faith towards God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and imposition of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.” -Hebrews 6:1
“(For the law brought nothing to perfection,) but a bringing in of a better hope, by which we draw nigh to God.” -Hebrews 7:19
“The Holy Ghost signifying this, that the way into the holies was not yet made manifest, whilst the former tabernacle was yet standing. Which is a parable of the time present: according to which gifts and sacrifices are offered, which can not, as to the conscience, make him perfect that serveth, only in meats and in drinks, And divers washings, and justices of the flesh laid on them until the time of correction.” -Hebrews 9:8-10
“For the law having a shadow of the good things to come, not the very image of the things; by the selfsame sacrifices which they offer continually every year, can never make the comers thereunto perfect…” -Hebrews 10:1
“And all these being approved by the testimony of faith, received not the promise; God providing some better thing for us, that they should not be perfected without us.” -Hebrews 11:39-40
“But you are come to mount Sion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels, And to the church of the firstborn, who are written in the heavens, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new testament, and to the sprinkling of blood which speaketh better than that of Abel.” -Hebrews 12:22-24
“And patience hath a perfect work; that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.” -James 1:4
“But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.” -James 1:25
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God.” -James 2:21-23
“For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. He is able also with a bridle to lead about the whole body.” -James 3:2
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us into his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little, will himself perfect you, and confirm you, and establish you.” -1 Peter 5:10
“But he that keepeth his word, in him in very deed the charity of God is perfected; and by this we know that we are in him.” - 1 John 2:5
“No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us.” -1 John 4:12
“In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world. Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.” -1 John 4:17-18