Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Hebrews 13:21 KJV
Modern translations avoid using the word “perfect.” In the case of this verse consider some of these renderings:
NLT “may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.”
ESV “equip you with everything good that you may do his will,”
NIV “equip you with everything good for doing his will,”
NRSV “make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will”
All but one of these use the verb “to equip” with NRSV alone saying “make complete.” But none of them ventures to use “make perfect” as the KJV did. What’s going on? Is “make perfect” a mistranslation?
The big problem today is that “perfect” has come to mean “flawless,” as in a “perfect diamond.” That is not the way in which the 1611 translators thought when they used the word “perfect.” They thought of it as being whole or coming to completion.
The idea of Christ’s bringing us to completion, perfecting us, is a significant thought in the book of Hebrews. The idea is used with reference to Christ in vv. 2:10 and 5:9 where it speaks about the full completion of his saving work. It’s used of us humans in 7:11; 10:1; 12:2, 23 to speak of our arriving at that point where we are completely God’s, where everything that can be expected of a human, i.e. complete, untroubled fellowship with God, is achieved.
But the Greek word used in 13:21 is a different one from the one used elsewhere in the book. Here it is katartidzo which means to put something in full (complete) repair. This is what James, John and Zebedee were doing to their nets when Jesus changed everything for them. They were “perfecting” their nets, restoring them to the place where the nets could do all that was expected of them. Isn’t that an exciting thought? Jesus, our Great Shepherd, can restore us to that place where all we want is to do what he wants. Will we do that “perfectly,” flawlessly? Probably not. But it will not be because of some defect in our consecration, or our commitment. No, he can put us in perfect repair! All his!
Called To Be Transformed 