The Measuring Stick

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  1 John 4:18  NASB Perfect love – We have a serious problem with perfect.  Since Parmenides, our idea of perfect has been a negative concept, that is, freedom from any defect…

The Impossible Standard

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  1 John 4:18  NASB Perfect love – “Perfect” is a terrifying word.  It’s not so ominous when it comes to things like true and false exams or Lego constructions, but try…

The Art of Perfection

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.1 John 4:18  NASB Perfect love – What does “perfect love” mean to you?  Not Hollywood’s version, I’m sure.  Maybe you think of the ideal bliss of complete vulnerability (or maybe that seems…

Parmenides’ Legacy (2)

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 NASB Perfect – Yesterday we considered some of the behavioral implications of the translation of teleios as “perfect.” Today we need to look at the deeper theological implications. It all begins with Parmenides. Parmenides, a 5th Century BCE Greek philosopher and…

Parmenides’ Legacy (1)

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:48 NASB Perfect – If I tell you that Yeshua drew this statement from Leviticus 19:2, you would discover rather quickly that the verse in the Tanakh does not require us to be perfect. It says, “You shall be holy, for I…

Investment Advice

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Matthew 19:21 NASB Complete – Yeshua was no financial planner. His advice would probably have caused a federal investigation and charges of deceptive practices….

Bubble, Bubble – Toil and Trouble?

Therefore, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.  Matthew 5:48 (CJB) Today’s edition was authored by Ian Hodge Perfect – In his TW article, “Theological Abuse” (January 22, 2012) , Skip closed the door on a false notion about perfection.  He concluded that to be perfect was “progressing toward godliness.”  I want to explore…

Theological Abuse

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48 NASB Perfect – It will come as no great shock to you that none of us can meet this standard.  No one is perfect.  In fact, it seems quite obvious that no human being is capable of being perfect.  Perhaps that’s…

Holy Perfection (1)

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48  NASB Perfect – Yeshua’s demand seems perfectly reasonable, right?  You and I can be perfect, can’t we?  God demands it.  We are accountable.  Therefore, we should do it. When I was much younger, this verse scared me to death.  I knew…

Fill Me Up

Vindicate me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering. Psalm 26:1 In My Integrity – Would you be able to make this request of the Lord?Can you honestly say you have walked with integrity and trusted God without wavering?That scares me.I know myself too…