counsel of perfection

English

Etymology

From Latin consilium perfectionis, Aquinas et al., from consilium in Tertullian's translation of 1 Cor. 7:25.

Noun

counsel of perfection (plural counsels of perfection)

1. (Christianity) Advice as to a means of striving for moral perfection.
   • 2005, Justo L. González, Essential Theological Terms, page 40:

     The main biblical foundation for this distinction between commandments and counsels of perfection is in the story of the encounter between Jesus and the rich young ruler. There, once the young man declares that he has obeyed all the commandments, Jesus tells him that if he wishes to "be perfect" he is to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor (Matt. 19:2).

   • 2005, Nicholas Capaldi, Business and Religion: A Clash of Civilizations?‎^[1], page 137:

     Many of the recommendations of Jesus are aimed at those who wish to join his circle of disciples to live a rigorous life. Often they are counsels of perfection, and not aimed at ordinary believers who live their everyday life in their family, in their work, and in their prayers.

   1. (Christianity, specifically) Any of the virtues of obedience, chastity, and charity, or other ascetic practices, especially in monastic vows.
      • 1874, Herbert, Bishop of Salford, “Preface”, in On The Choice of a State of Life, by the late Bishop of Bruges, page xix:

        There are many counsels of perfection. The frequent and fervent reception of the Sacraments is a counsel of perfection, and one of the principal of attaining perfection—Confession producing purity of soul, and Holy Communion a closer union between the soul and His Divine majesty.

      • 1893, Vernon Staley, The Catholic Religion, Unabridged Edition: A Manual for, published 2007, page 248:

        The Counsels of Perfection are three in number, viz., POVERTY, CHASTITY, and OBEDIENCE. They are termed 'counsels' as distinguished from the divine 'precepts', the fulfilment of which is universally necessary to salvation.

2. (by extension) Noble but impractical idealistic advice.
   • 1919, Harold Joseph Laski, Authority in the Modern State, page 55:

     To a practical statesman that will seem perhaps a counsel of perfection; and, certainly, it is a counsel that, at every stage, will encounter acute difficulties of practical operation.

   • 1988, Albert R. Jonsen, The Abuse of Casuistry: A History of Moral Reasoning‎^[2], page 225:

     Lessius qualified his position on killing in self-defense for defense of honor by noting that although it is permissible to kill for these reasons, it is a moral counsel of perfection to allow oneself to be killed rather than to kill.

   • 2008, Norman K Denzin, Michael D Giardina, Qualitative Inquiry and the Politics of Evidence‎^[3], page 69:

     In the end, their “Recommendations for Designing and Evaluating Qualitative Research” concludes with another counsel of perfection: “These guidelines amount to a specification of the ideal qualitative research proposal [original emphasis].

   • 2020, Robin Gill, Christian Ethics: The Basics:

     Luther is well aware that he is offering 'lofty' advice here. Positively, this can be seen as a counsel of perfection, similar to the command in the Sermon on the Mount to love your enemies and to pray for those who persecute you.

See also

• counsel of despair