Topical Encyclopedia
The term "merely" is not directly found in the text of the Bible; however, its concept can be explored through various scriptural passages that emphasize simplicity, singularity, or the essence of something without additional elements. In a biblical context, "merely" often relates to the idea of focusing on the core or essential aspects of faith, life, and worship, without unnecessary additions or distractions.
Simplicity in Faith and WorshipThe Bible frequently calls believers to a pure and simple devotion to God. In
2 Corinthians 11:3 , the Apostle Paul expresses concern that the Corinthians might be led astray from their "sincere and pure devotion to Christ." This passage underscores the importance of maintaining a faith that is not complicated by extraneous beliefs or practices, but is merely focused on Christ.
Similarly, in
Micah 6:8 , the prophet Micah distills the requirements of God into three simple actions: "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse highlights the essence of what God desires from His people, emphasizing a straightforward and uncomplicated relationship with Him.
The Essence of God's CommandsThe concept of "merely" can also be seen in the way Jesus summarizes the Law and the Prophets. In
Matthew 22:37-40 , Jesus states, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Here, Jesus reduces the complexity of the law to its core principles, focusing merely on love for God and others.
Warnings Against SuperficialityThe Bible also warns against a superficial or merely external adherence to religious practices. In
Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, saying, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." This passage warns against a faith that is merely outward and not reflective of true inner transformation.
Faith and WorksJames 2:17 states, "So too, faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." This verse emphasizes that faith cannot be merely intellectual or verbal; it must be accompanied by action. The essence of true faith is demonstrated through works, reflecting a genuine commitment to God's commands.
ConclusionWhile the word "merely" itself may not appear in the Bible, its implications are woven throughout Scripture. The call to a simple, sincere, and genuine faith is a recurring theme, urging believers to focus on the core tenets of their relationship with God and others, avoiding superficiality and embracing the true essence of the Gospel.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
adv.) Purely; unmixedly; absolutely.
2. (adv.) Not otherwise than; simply; barely; only.
Greek
3440. monon --merely...merely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: monon Phonetic Spelling: (mon'-on)
Short Definition: alone, but, only Definition: alone, but, only.
...4210. porphurous -- purple
... See 4209 (). (Jn 19:5) It was customary in ancient times for a to dress in .
Hence, giving Jesus a cloak, Him as someonemerely to be a....
3403. mimnesko -- to remind, remember
... in mind, "be mindful of.". 3403 () means " remember" (ie ) -- not off-handedly
ormerely incidentally. [3403 should be treated (semantically...
202. akroates -- a hearer
... hearer. From akroaomai (to listen; apparently an intensive of akouo); a hearer
(merely) -- hearer. see GREEK akouo. (akroatai) -- 2 Occurrences....
536. aparche -- the beginning of a sacrifice, ie the first fruit
... of the year, hence also met., for example, of the earliest converts in a district;
there is evidence in favor of rendering in some passagesmerely by: sacrifice...
4561. sarx -- flesh
... nature, materiality; kindred. 4561 properly, ("carnal"),merely . [4561
("flesh") is not always evil in Scripture. Indeed, it is...
3068. louo -- to bathe, to wash
... Definition: (lit. ormerely ceremonially), I wash, bathe (the body); mid: of
washing, bathing one's self; met: I cleanse from sin. 3068...
99. Adrias -- the Adriatic, the name of a sea
... Transliteration: Adrias Phonetic Spelling: (ad-ree'-as) Short Definition: the Adriatic
Sea Definition: the Hadria, a name given by sailors notmerely to the...
752. archisunagogos -- ruler of a synagogue
... Definition: a leader of the synagogue, a leader connected with the synagogue: sometimes
there was only one, and the name was in some casesmerely honorary....
2864. kome -- hair
... Apparently from the same as komizo; the hair of the head (locks, as ornamental,
and thus differing from thrix; which properly denotesmerely the scalp) -- hair...
Strong's Hebrew
7535. raq -- but, even, except, howbeit howsoever, at the least...... The same as raq as a noun; properly, leanness, ie (figuratively) limitation; only
adverbial,
merely, or conjunctional, although -- but, even, except, howbeit
...1571. gam -- also, moreover, yea
... either by or (1), even (114), even they also (2), even they too (1), furthermore
(15), however (1), indeed (21), itself (1), likewise (5),merely (1), moreover...
4592. meat -- a little, fewness, a few
... almost (2), brief (1), close (1), diminish (1), easily (1), enough (3), few (20),
fewest (1), little (44), little while (8), many* (1),merely (1), quickly (1...
6985. qat -- perhaps only
... very. From qatat in the sense of abbreviation; a little, ie (adverbially)merely --
very. see HEBREW qatat. 6984, 6985. qat. 6986 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Fragment iii. For the Controversy is notMerely as Regards the Day...
... Fragment III. For the controversy is notmerely as regards the day? For
[4800] the controversy is notmerely as regards the day...
Whether Wisdom isMerely Speculative, or Practical Also?
... OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM (SIX ARTICLES) Whether wisdom ismerely speculative, or practical
also?... But wisdom, as an intellectual virtue, ismerely speculative....
Whether the Gift of Understanding isMerely Speculative or Also...
... OF THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the gift of understanding
ismerely speculative or also practical? Objection...
But weMerely, You Say, Flatter the Emperor, and Feign These...
... Chapter XXXI. But wemerely, you say, flatter the emperor, and feign these
prayers of ours to? But wemerely, you say, flatter...
Christ's Discourse against theMerely Outward Cleanliness of the...
... Section 173. Christ's Discourse against themerely outward Cleanliness of the
Pharisees."He explains the Discourse to his Disciples. (Matt., xv., 1.-20.)....
As Many as have notMerely Apostatized, but have Risen against...
... Canon IX. As many as have notmerely apostatized, but have risen against
their brethren and forced? As many as have notmerely...
That None Can Become PerfectMerely through the First Grade of...
... II. Second Conference of Abbot Moses. Chapter X. That none can become perfect
merely through the first grade of renunciation. In...
Concerning those who have YieldedMerely Upon Threat of Penalties...
... Canon VI. Concerning those who have yieldedmerely upon threat of penalties
and of the confiscation of? Concerning those who have...
Whether, in Prophetic Revelation, New Species of Things are...
... Whether, in prophetic revelation, new species of things are impressed on
the prophet's mind, ormerely a new light? Objection 1: It...
Whether the Ceremonial Precepts have a Literal Cause orMerely a...
... OF THE CAUSES OF THE CEREMONIAL PRECEPTS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the ceremonial
precepts have a literal cause ormerely a figurative cause?...
Thesaurus
Merely (30 Occurrences)... 1. (adv.) Purely; unmixedly; absolutely. 2. (adv.) Not otherwise than; simply;
barely; only. Multi-Version Concordance
Merely (30 Occurrences).
...Earthly (39 Occurrences)
... In Plutarch Mor. 566 D, it occurs in the remarkable phrase, "that which is earthly
of the soul." Its meaning is primarilymerely local ("being on the earth")....
Amon (20 Occurrences)
... His short reign wasmerely incidental in the history of Judah; just long enough
to reveal the traits and tendencies which directly or indirectly led to his...
Guilt (180 Occurrences)
... The man is guilty, not because he might or should have known; he maymerely have
touched unwittingly the body of an unclean beast (Leviticus 5:2, 3). The guilt...
Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... 1. Contrast with Time: Eternity is best conceived, not in themerely negative form
of the non-temporal, or immeasurable time, but positively, as the mode of...
Anthropomorphism
... crude anthropomorphisms, the Old Testament, when it ascribes to Deity physical
characters, mental and moral attributes, like those of man,merely means to make...
Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... rendered to him.Merely to escape the penalties of an angry deity the
group demanded ceremonial religious observances. From the...
Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... Thus, "the Godhead" is frequently employedmerely as a somewhat strong synonym of
"God" although usually with more or less emphasis upon that in God which...
Omnipotence (2 Occurrences)
... apparent. The divine power operates notmerely in single concrete acts,
but is comprehensively related to the world as such. Both...
Revelation (52 Occurrences)
... (see WORD OF GOD.) The Scriptures are notmerely the "record" of revelation; they
are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate...
Resources
What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is nominalism? What is a nominalist? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? | GotQuestions.orgMerely: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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