Perfect
τέλειοςStrong’s G5046teleios
Appears in 17 verses of the New Testament
In short
Teleios is the Greek word usually translated “perfect”, “mature” and “full grown”. It appears in 17 verses of the New Testament.
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Meaning
Usually translated “perfect”, “mature” and “full grown”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- perfect 11
- mature 4
- full grown 1
- a complete 1
- more perfect 1
- a perfect 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- James 4
- 1 Corinthians 3
- Matthew 2
- Colossians 2
- Hebrews 2
- Romans 1
9 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Matthew 19:21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
- Romans 12:2And 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.
- 1 Corinthians 2:6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
- 1 Corinthians 13:10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
- 1 Corinthians 14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
- Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Greek dictionary
τέλειος teleios · perfect
τέλειος, -α, -ον (τέλος), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלֵם, תָּמִים and cogn. forms ;] having reached its end, finished, mature, complete, perfect; 1. of persons, primarily of physical development, (a) full-grown, mature: Heb.5:14; ethically: Php.3:15; opposite to νήπιος (-άζειν), 1Co.2:6 14:20, Eph.4:13; τ. καὶ πεπληροφορημένοι, Col.4:12; τ. ἐν Χριστῷ, Col.1:28; (b) complete, perfect (expressing the simple idea of complete goodness, without reference either to maturity or to the philosophical idea of a τέλος; see Hort on Jas.1:4): Mat.5:48 19:21, Jas.1:4 3:2; of God, Mat.5:48. …
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “perfect” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
PER'FECT, adjective
[Latin perfectus, perficio, to complete; per and facio, to do or make through, to carry to the end.]
- Finished; complete; consummate; not defective; having all that is requisite to its nature and kind; as a perfect statue; a perfect likeness; a perfect work; a perfect system.
- Fully informed; completely skilled; as men perfect in the use of arms; perfect in discipline.
- Complete in moral excellencies.“Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect” Matthew 5:48
- Manifesting perfection.“My strength is made perfect in weakness” 2 Corinthians 12:9
All definitions and other forms of “perfect”
PER'FECT, verb transitive
[Latin perfectus, perficio.]
To finish or complete so as to leave nothing wanting; to give to any thing all that is requisite to its nature and kind; as, to perfect a picture or statue.
- “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. 1” 1 John 4:12
- To instruct fully; to make fully skillful; as, to perfect one's self in the rules of music or architecture; to perfect soldiers in discipline.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.