Quote:
Originally Posted by Archaea
I realize Elder Nelson has already addressed this point years ago, but why do you believe translators use "perfect" in Matthew 5:48?
Do the English translations of this verse confuse you?
quote:ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοι ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν KJV:
quote:Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. NRSV:
quote:Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. teleois means:
quote:complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness |
One of the meanings of
telos is "perfect," but it has several other related meanings having to do with completion, ending, fulfillment, maturity. Religiously, this word is used to describe initiation into mystery religions - the initiates are "complete" or "perfect." The word can also be a euphemism for death - e.g. he "ended."
I suppose 'perfect' works better in English than 'complete,' but that's definitely debatable.