Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of imperfection is woven throughout the biblical narrative, reflecting the human condition and the need for divine grace. In the Bible, imperfection is often associated with human frailty, sin, and the fallen state of the world. Despite this, the Scriptures also reveal God's redemptive plan to restore and perfect His creation.
Human ImperfectionThe Bible acknowledges the imperfection of humanity from the very beginning. In Genesis, the fall of Adam and Eve introduces sin into the world, marking the start of human imperfection.
Genesis 3:6-7 describes how Adam and Eve's disobedience led to a loss of innocence and the awareness of their flawed state: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves."
Throughout the Old Testament, the imperfection of humanity is evident in the repeated failures of individuals and nations to uphold God's commandments. The Israelites, despite being chosen by God, frequently fall into idolatry and disobedience, highlighting their imperfect nature.
Imperfect Sacrifices and the LawThe sacrificial system established in the Old Testament underscores the imperfection of human efforts to atone for sin.
Hebrews 10:1-4 explains, "The law is only a shadow of the good things to come, not the realities themselves. It can never, by the same sacrifices offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. If it could, would not the offerings have ceased? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. Instead, those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."
The law and sacrifices were imperfect in that they could not fully cleanse or perfect the worshiper, pointing instead to the need for a perfect sacrifice.
Christ's Perfection and RedemptionThe New Testament reveals Jesus Christ as the perfect solution to human imperfection. Unlike the sacrifices of the Old Testament, Christ's sacrifice is sufficient to atone for sin once and for all.
Hebrews 10:14 states, "For by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified."
Through Christ, believers are made perfect in their standing before God, though they continue to struggle with sin in their earthly lives. The Apostle Paul acknowledges this tension in
Romans 7:18-19 : "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do. Instead, I keep on doing the evil I do not want to do."
Sanctification and the Journey Toward PerfectionThe process of sanctification is the means by which believers are gradually conformed to the image of Christ, moving toward spiritual maturity and perfection.
Philippians 1:6 assures believers of God's ongoing work: "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."
While believers are positionally perfect in Christ, they are called to pursue holiness and strive for perfection in their daily lives. Jesus Himself commands in
Matthew 5:48 , "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
The Future PerfectionThe Bible promises a future where imperfection will be eradicated. In the new heavens and new earth, believers will experience complete perfection, free from sin and its effects.
Revelation 21:4 offers a glimpse of this future: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away."
In summary, the theme of imperfection in the Bible highlights the human need for redemption and the transformative power of God's grace through Jesus Christ. The journey from imperfection to perfection is central to the Christian faith, culminating in the ultimate restoration of all things.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Not perfect; not complete in all its parts; wanting a part; defective; deficient.
2. (a.) Wanting in some elementary organ that is essential to successful or normal activity.
3. (a.) Not fulfilling its design; not realizing an ideal; not conformed to a standard or rule; not satisfying the taste or conscience; esthetically or morally defective.
4. (n.) The imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the imperfect tense.
5. (v. t.) To make imperfect.
Greek
1510. eimi -- I exist, I am... 1510 ("is, am") -- in the tense, indicative mood -- can be time-inclusive
("omnitemporal," like the Hebrew
imperfect tense). Only
...5335. phasko -- to affirm, assert
... assert, affirm, profess. Cognate: 5335 (used as theimperfect tense of 5346 ,
see there) -- to (assert), () . See 5346 (). Word Origin...
2064. erchomai -- to come, go
... Middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present andimperfect tenses, the
others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) eleuthomai el-yoo'-thom...
3801. ho on kai ho en kai ho erchomenos -- to come
... to come Ho erchomenos (ho own kahee) ho ane kahee (ho er-khom'-en-os) a phrase
combining ho with the present participle andimperfect of eimi and the present...
3876. parakoe -- a hearing amiss, by impl. disobedience
... of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: parakoe Phonetic Spelling: (par-ak-o-
ay') Short Definition: disobedience Definition: disobedience,imperfect hearing...
2258. en -- agree, be, have charge of, hold, use.
... agree, be, have charge of, hold, use.Imperfect of eimi; I (thou, etc.) Was (wast
or were) -- + agree, be, X have (+ charge of), hold, use, was(-t), were....
433. aneko -- to be fit, be proper
... (Col 3:18) (433 ) -- Note theimperfect tense ("was fitting"). [JB Lightfoot, "The
tense involved perhaps implies an essential () obligation" of what was "."]....
2147. heurisko -- to find
... heuro (hyoo'-ro), which (together with another cognate form) heureo (hyoo-reh'-o)
is used for it in all the tenses except the present andimperfect to find...
Strong's Hebrew
1564. golem -- an embryo... substance yet being
imperfect. From galam; a wrapped (and unformed mass, ie As the
embryo) -- substance yet being unperfect. see HEBREW galam. 1563, 1564.
...Library
February the FourteenthImperfect Consecration
... FEBRUARY The FourteenthIMPERFECT CONSECRATION. MATTHEW xix.16-22. The rich young
ruler consecrated a part, but was unwilling to consecrate the whole....
That WithoutImperfect Meekness Coming Before, it is Impossible...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE FOURTEENTH CHAPTER That withoutimperfect meekness coming before,
it is impossible for a sinner to come to the perfect Virtue of meekness in...
Naaman'sImperfect Faith
... THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS NAAMAN'SIMPERFECT FAITH. 'And he returned to the
man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood...
Perfect in Parts,Imperfect in Degrees.
... First Chapter. SANCTIFICATION. X. Perfect in Parts,Imperfect in Degrees.... But
sanctification isimperfect in the degree of its development....
I amImperfect in Many Things, Nevertheless I Want My Brethren and...
... Section 6. I amimperfect in many things, nevertheless I want my brethren and
kinsfolk to? 6. I amimperfect in many things, nevertheless...
Imperfect Conviction.
... Book IX. Chapter XVI."Imperfect Conviction. Then said the old man: "My
son Clement has wisely framed his argument, so that he...
Of those who While StillImperfect Retire into the Desert.
... The Conferences of John Cassian. Chapter X. Of those who while stillimperfect
retire into the desert. But some are sometimes so...
Perfect Human Righteousness isImperfect.
... Book II. Chapter 18 [XIII.]"Perfect Human Righteousness isImperfect. There
are then on earth righteous men, there are great men...
How Dangerous thisImperfect Love Is.
... CHAPTER X. HOW DANGEROUS THISIMPERFECT LOVE IS. Alas!... These were effects ofimperfect
love, which former charity, now past, had left in his heart....
A Means to Discern thisImperfect Love.
... BOOK IV. OF THE DECAY AND RUIN OF CHARITY. CHAPTER XI. A MEANS TO DISCERN
THISIMPERFECT LOVE. But, you will ask me, what means...
Thesaurus
Imperfect (6 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) The
imperfect tense; or the form of a verb denoting the
imperfect tense.
5. (vt) To make
imperfect. Multi-Version Concordance
Imperfect (6 Occurrences).
...Proper (62 Occurrences)
... as Jonathan, "Yahweh hath given," Jehoshaphat, "Yahweh hath judged," Eleazar, "God
hath helped," Elkanah, "God hath formed"; or before animperfect, as Eliahba...
Lame (35 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) To some degree disabled by reason of theimperfect action of a
limb; crippled; as, a lame man. 3. (superl.) Hence, hobbling...
Were (28152 Occurrences)
... See Weir. 3. (vt) To guard; to protect. 4. (n.) Theimperfect indicative plural,
andimperfect subjunctive singular and plural, of the verb be. See Be....
Imperfection (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality or condition of beingimperfect; want
of perfection; incompleteness; deficiency; fault or blemish....
Estimate (6 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To judge and form an opinion of the value of, fromimperfect data, -- either
the extrinsic (money), or intrinsic (moral), value; to fix the worth of...
Element (1 Occurrence)
... British and American) has "rudiments," as in the King James Version margin, and
in Colossians 2:8, 20, where the reference is toimperfect Jewish ordinances....
Names (133 Occurrences)
... as Jonathan, "Yahweh hath given," Jehoshaphat, "Yahweh hath judged," Eleazar, "God
hath helped," Elkanah, "God hath formed"; or before animperfect, as Eliahba...
Languages (36 Occurrences)
... two cases. The dual and 2nd and 3rd person plural and 2nd person singular
feminine of theimperfect of the verb ended in nun. In...
Nehelamite (4 Occurrences)
... two cases. The dual and 2nd and 3rd person plural and 2nd person singular
feminine of theimperfect of the verb ended in nun. In...
Resources
What is Verbal Plenary Preservation? | GotQuestions.orgWhy is life so hard? | GotQuestions.orgAre we to love the sinner but hate the sin? | GotQuestions.orgImperfect: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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