In the word study of the previous issue we looked at the Greek word teleios which is commonly translated "perfect" in our New Testament. It was noted that this word did not mean "perfect" in the sense of sinless or faultless, but rather in the sense of complete, finished, or full grown. Another word which is often translated "perfect" is katartizo. The basic meaning of this word is somewhat different from that of teleios, as illustrated by the following two verses:"And going on from thence, He saw other two brethren . . . mending [katartizo] their nets" (Matthew 4:21). "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore [katartizo] such an one in the spirit of meekness" (Galatians 6:1). This word, therefore, expresses the thought of "repairing," "restoring," "putting in working order again," "equipping for service," and often has the related, but wider thought of "completely furnishing."

Katartizo is also used in Greek literature to express the setting of broken bones. Perhaps it is this use of the word which the Apostle Paul had in mind when writing to the Corinthians:"I beseech you . . . that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (I Corinthians 1:10). In this verse the three words "perfectly joined together" are translated from the one Greek word katartizo. Just as the torn net and the broken arm must be repaired before they are useful, so must the different factions in the Corinthian assembly_and any assembly_be wholly united before true service for the Lord can be effected.

We will now examine a few scriptures in which katartizo has the thought of "furnishing completely." In the latter half of Luke 6, we find Christ exhorting His disciples that they might have an attitude of love, mercy, and meekness toward those with whom they come in contact. Then in verse 40 He says, "The disciple [or learner] is not above his master [or teacher]:but every one that is perfect [katartizo, "completely furnished"] shall be as his master." He who counts it below his dignity to love his enemies (verse 27) or to offer the other cheek (verse 29) is, in effect, taking a place higher than that which the Lord Jesus took. But if one is truly a disciple of the Lord and is completely furnished or instructed in His teaching, he will be as his Teacher_guided by the same principles and having the same thoughts and motives.

The thought of complete furnishing through instruction in the Word is also found in I Thessalonians 3:10:"Night and day praying . . . that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith."

In Hebrews we twice find a word other than "perfect" employed in the translation of katartizo. In both cases it clearly has the force of "furnished for a particular service or purpose." Verse 5 of chapter 10 reads:"Wherefore when He cometh into the world, He saith, Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared [katartizo] Me." Then in verse 3 of the following chapter we have:"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed [katartizo] by the word of God."
Finally, let us notice a passage in which both katartizo and teleios are found:"And he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting katarizo of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ; until we all arrive at the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, at the full-grown [tdeios] man, at the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13, J.N.D. trans.). Thus, a risen Christ has raised up gifted men for the purpose of perfecting the saints, that is, thoroughly furnishing and equipping them for service. May we faithfully perform this service of ministering Christ to one another, with the end in view that we might all arrive at the perfect or full-grown man_the man who is filled with "the knowledge of the Son of God" and whose object and occupation is Christ alone.