Perfection

You shall be blameless before the Lord your God

Deuteronomy 18:13

This is the genealogy of Noah. Now was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Genesis 6:9

The word translated as “blameless” in Deuteronomy 18:13 is translated as “perfect” in its first appearance in Genesis 6:9. The word is tamim, Strongs #8549. I believe that it was Chuck Missler whom I first heard teach on the ‘principle of first mention.’

That principle attempts to look at the first appearance of words or doctrines in order to glean a fuller understanding of context and application, etc.

So for those willing to get “fringy,” the idea of perfection in this sense could easily carry with it the connotation of genetically pure or unmodified because of the first appearance of the word coming as Scripture is retelling of the incursion of the Nephilim upon the earth and the corruption of creation.

Perhaps something that Paul was holding in the back of his mind when, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he penned the following:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2

Anyone ever try to keep a simple house plant alive and healthy? How much more complex, in this day and age, is it to keep a human body “living”?

Carrying this further, we could consider this also, in terms of Isaiah 54:17 as corruption of the genome could be considered a weapon that was leveled in order to bring about destruction. (Now why does that sound familiar?)

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.”

Genesis 17:1

This isn’t a request; this is an order from the General. But just the same, it is a promise.

Age is no matter- for He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ- Phil 1:6

Throughout it all- it’s about the individual relationship with God and the empowerment that only He can provide in the life of the one that seeks Him.

We should not be scared of such standards set in Scripture. He knows that we are but dust- and within these requirements, we find that He is willing to equip. There are beautiful promises contained in these scary calls for perfection, but also beautiful relationship with the Creator Himself.

Then, the word that these three examples came from- #8552, tamam, which means to be complete or finished. And ultimately, isn’t that what we are striving for? To be complete in Christ?