The spirits of the righteous made perfect
stands next to Hebrews 11:40, where perfection has not yet been reached. Is this contradictory? It is about the word “teleio” (ESV: made perfect) which we encounter more often in this letter, with three distinct phases. First, it means to reach the finish of the race as the end of your earthly life. Subsequently it points to the perfect life in heaven before the throne of God. And finally, everything ends in the perfect life on the new earth when the heavenly city comes to earth.
The saints and righteous ones from Hebrews 11 have died and have seen many promises of God being fulfilled, but that last promise of final perfection has not yet been fulfilled (Hebrews 11:39). In Hebrews 11:40 it says that God does not let them reach perfection (teleiothosin) without us. The wait is for the reunion of all believers: God wants to celebrate that final feast when all believers have been gathered. That promise is still open, and God fulfills it when the promised city comes down from heaven!
The same word, derived from “teleio,” is used by the author for Jesus: the perfector of our faith (“teleiotѐs,” see explanation of Hebrews 12:2). It is also said of Jesus that through suffering he was brought to the (final) perfection (Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 5:9, Hebrews 7:28). Only in that way of sacrifice, does he—according to God’s plan of salvation—bring many children to perfection, to share in his glory (Hebrews 2:10, Hebrews 2:13).
23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,