Mike wrote:
The word “mature” in v6 is the Greek word τελειοις. The KJV translates this word as “perfect” here. It actually refers to people who are morally complete, but biblically it refers to Christians who are mature in their faith in contrast to new or baby Christians. This is why Christian leaders must be the τελειοις because they are mature and have a deeper understanding of God’s eternal truth. Never forget this my brethren. The Gospel is God’s eternal truth and is only understandable by those to whom it is granted by God. People are not saved by debate or through religiosity or through reasoning. It is only as God opens hearts coupled with the preaching of the Gospel that people see the truth about their lostness and inability to be justified in anything they do or have. By God’s Grace through the faith given to them, they believe and repent. God justifies them as He imputes the Lord’s Righteousness to them because God imputed their unrighteousness to Jesus Christ as He was crucified on that cruel Cross. What sealed this for us was that after His death and burial, God resurrected him.
This is a very simple and short definition of the Gospel, but this is denied by very large numbers of so-called Christians who insist on their own version of justification that includes works and religiosity and church membership. None of this is biblical, however, what I just presented in the last paragraph is and those who are regenerate and have the Holy Spirit read it and understood it and assented that this is the Biblical Gospel.
I also was reading about the word Perfect:
The KJV verse is:
1Co 2:6 Howbeit 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:
Another instance is:
2Co 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
It’s interesting when I researched it (if ChatGPT) is accurate we see some reasoning of the KJV Translators…
Conclusion (Historically Documented)
There were no Greek textual differences.
The Geneva and KJV used “perfect” because:
- it was the standard English ecclesiastical rendering
- in 16th–17th century English it meant “complete; restored; put in order”
- it matched the lexical sense understood by Beza, Stephanus, and Erasmus
- the translators followed their stated philosophy of preserving traditional Bible terminology
Modern versions change the wording because the
English word
“perfect” changed meaning—not the Greek.
Because “perfect” in modern English means:
- flawless
- sinless
- without defect
Modern translations avoid it to prevent misinterpretation.
I can see that but I also see that the word is rich as it is…in other uses Jesus talked about perfection.
Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Old John Gill explained it like this:
Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, as your Father,…. This perfection is to be restrained to the subject Christ is upon, love to men, and not to be referred to any, or every other thing; wherefore, in Luk 6:36 it is, “be ye merciful, as your Father also is merciful”; and regards not a perfection of degree in that, but objects and quality: that is to say, not that men may, or can, or ought to be as perfect in love, as to the degree of it, as God is; that is impossible: the “as” here, is not a note of equality, but of likeness: such, who profess God to be their Father, ought to imitate him, particularly in their love to men, which ought to be extended to the same objects, as the divine goodness is; that, as he shows regard in a providential way to all men, good and bad, just and unjust, and his tender mercies are over all his works; so ought they to love all men with a natural affection, and hate no man, no, not their enemies: for he that loves only his friends, and not his enemies, loves imperfectly; he does not take in the whole compass of objects his love is to extend unto; and as God loves sincerely, and without dissimulation, so should they. To be “perfect”, is to be sincere and upright: in this sense is the word often used, and answers to the Hebrew word תמים, which signifies the same: see Deu 18:13 which is the passage Christ seems to refer to here; and the sense is, be ye sincere and upright in your love to all men, as your heavenly Father is hearty and sincere in his affections to them.
There is a good insight on this wording of obtaining Perfection in this discussion:
Matthew 19:21-26 Jesus 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.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. 23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Something to think about…..
Rainbow Trout 