The concept of Moral perfection in Christianity
Moral perfection in Christianity embodies the aspiration for holiness and alignment with God's will. It reflects Jesus' character as a model of purity and goodness, promoting righteousness as humanity's ultimate goal. Moral perfection consists of being morally complete, characterized by the total devotion to God's will and the absence of wrongdoing. This concept emphasizes the inward disposition of love towards God, contrasting human imperfections with divine attributes, and affirms the ideal of virtue achieved through moral excellence.
Synonyms: Moral integrity, Righteousness, Ethical purity, High moral standards, Virtue, Moral excellence, Uprightness, Integrity, Virtuousness, Impeccable character, Moral uprightness, Goodness, Ethical behavior, Ethical perfection, Rectitude, Purity.
In Dutch: Morele perfectie; In Finnish: Moraalinen täydellisyys; In Spanish: Perfección moral; In German: Moralische Vollkommenheit; In Malay: Kesempurnaan akhlak; In Swedish: Moralisk perfektion; In French: Perfection morale
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Christian concept of 'Moral perfection'
From: Expositions of Holy Scripture
(1) Righteousness is this, and conformity to the will of God, and is the true nourishment of the Spirit, and the salt of all lofty life, and the desire to be righteous is already righteousness in heart and will.[1] (2) This is the idea that is often associated with holiness, although it is not the whole of it, as the root meaning of the word refers to being 'set apart'.[2] (3) This is the unfortunate popular notion of holiness, which identifies it with purity, righteousness, and moral perfection, but it is not the whole of it.[3] (4) The moral perfection of the individual or of the race is a way of stating the end of the Gospel, and is considered one complete truth of the Gospel.[4] (5) This describes a state of being morally complete, where righteousness is the ultimate goal and is widely separated from the world's conception in regard to its elements and source.[5]
From: A Dictionary of the Bible (Hastings)
(1) Moral perfection is mentioned in the text, which is preserved by assigning the evil in the world to the agency of evil spirits.[6] (2) The miracles of the Gospels are constituent elements of Christ’s moral perfection, His grace towards men.[7] (3) The elevated ideal of moral goodness promoted by Christ, contrasting with the previous laws and emphasizing an inward disposition of love to God.[8]
From: A Cyclopedia of Biblical literature
(1) The term is used to describe angels, as evidenced by phrases such as 'holy angels' and 'the elect angels,' which demonstrate their righteousness and moral excellence within the context.[9]
From: The Existence and Attributes of God
(1) The ethical qualities of a being, which do not influence God's decisions regarding who receives mercy and grace.[10] (2) Denotes the state of being free from wrongdoing, making man capable of righteousness as intended by God.[11] (3) Attributes of God that can be emulated by humans; emphasized as the true way to resemble God.[12]
From: Summa Theologica (English translation)
(1) The state achieved when moral virtues are fully realized, guiding actions according to reason.[13] (2) The ideal state of virtue that involves the absence of any shame or fear related to disgraceful action, which shamefacedness lacks.[14]
From: Ante-nicene Fathers
(1) The ideal state of being fully moral and virtuous, which Clement associates with being complete in faith and commitment.[15]