Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical literature, the term "simple" often refers to individuals who are naive, lacking in wisdom, or easily led astray. The concept of simplicity is addressed in various books of the Bible, particularly in the wisdom literature, where it is contrasted with wisdom and prudence.
Old Testament ReferencesThe Book of Proverbs frequently addresses the "simple" as those who are inexperienced or gullible.
Proverbs 1:22 asks, "How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?" Here, the simple are depicted as those who are content with their lack of understanding and are resistant to gaining wisdom.
Proverbs 7:7 describes a scene where the simple are easily led into temptation: "I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment." This passage illustrates the vulnerability of the simple to moral and spiritual pitfalls due to their lack of discernment.
In
Proverbs 9:4-6 , wisdom calls out to the simple: "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! To him who lacks judgment she says, 'Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.'" This invitation highlights the biblical encouragement for the simple to seek wisdom and understanding.
New Testament ContextWhile the New Testament does not use the term "simple" as frequently as the Old Testament, the concept is still present. In
Romans 16:19 , Paul advises the believers, "But I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil." Here, the idea is to maintain a simplicity in innocence, avoiding the complexities and corruptions of evil.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, the state of being simple is not inherently sinful but is seen as a condition that requires growth and maturity. The Bible encourages the simple to pursue wisdom, which is often equated with the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
The simple are called to move beyond their initial state of naivety and to grow in their knowledge of God and His ways. This growth is facilitated through the study of Scripture, prayer, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Practical ApplicationIn practical terms, believers are encouraged to seek wisdom and understanding actively. This involves a commitment to learning and applying biblical principles in daily life. The simple are urged to surround themselves with wise counsel and to be discerning in their choices and associations.
The biblical portrayal of the simple serves as a reminder of the importance of spiritual growth and the pursuit of godly wisdom. It underscores the need for believers to be vigilant in their walk with God, continually seeking to deepen their understanding and live according to His will.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
a.) Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded; not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a simple substance; a simple idea; a simple sound; a simple machine; a simple problem; simple tasks.
2. (a.) Plain; unadorned; as, simple dress.
3. (a.) Mere; not other than; being only.
4. (a.) Not given to artifice, stratagem, or duplicity; undesigning; sincere; true.
5. (a.) Artless in manner; unaffected; unconstrained; natural; inartificial;; straightforward.
6. (a.) Direct; clear; intelligible; not abstruse or enigmatical; as, a simple statement; simple language.
7. (a.) Weak in intellect; not wise or sagacious; of but moderate understanding or attainments; hence, foolish; silly.
8. (a.) Not luxurious; without much variety; plain; as, a simple diet; a simple way of living.
9. (a.) Humble; lowly; undistinguished.
10. (a.) Without subdivisions; entire; as, a simple stem; a simple leaf.
11. (a.) Not capable of being decomposed into anything more simple or ultimate by any means at present known; elementary; thus, atoms are regarded as simple bodies. Cf. Ultimate, a.
12. (a.) Homogenous.
13. (a.) Consisting of a single individual or zooid; as, a simple ascidian; -- opposed to compound.
14. (a.) Something not mixed or compounded.
15. (n.) A medicinal plant; -- so called because each vegetable was supposed to possess its particular virtue, and therefore to constitute a simple remedy.
16. (n.) A drawloom.
17. (n.) A part of the apparatus for raising the heddles of a drawloom.
18. (n.) A feast which is not a double or a semidouble.
19. (v. i.) To gather simples, or medicinal plants.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
SIMPLEsim'-p'l: In the Old Testament the uniform tranlation of the Hebrew word pethi (root pathah, "be open"). Like the English word "simple" (etymologically "of one fold"), the Hebrew pethi is used sometimes in a good sense, i.e. "open-minded" (Psalm 19:7;Psalm 116:6; 119:130, possibly in all three cases the sense is neutral rather than positively good), and sometimes in a bad sense (Proverbs 7:7, parallel to "destitute of understanding";Proverbs 8:5, parallel to "fools" (blockheads);Proverbs 14:15, opposed to prudent). The fundamental idea of pethi seems to be open to influence, i.e. easily influenced. That one open to influence should as a rule be classed with the irreligious is one of many instances in which language is an unwilling witness to the miasmatic moral atmosphere in which we live. The line between moral weakness and moral turpitude, between negative goodness (if indeed such a thing be conceivable) and positive badness, is soon passed.
In the New Testament the word "simple" is found only inRomans 16:18, 19 the King James Version. In the first of these passages it is used to translate akakos (the Revised Version (British and American) "innocent"). InHebrews 7:26 the King James Version the same word is rendered "harmless," the rendering of the Revised Version (British and American) in this instance being "guileless." This would suitRomans 16:18 better than "innocent." Guilelessness is not a synonym for gullibility; but the guileless are frequently the prey of designing men. InRomans 16:19 the word translated "simple" is akeraios, literally, "unmixed," "sincere" (Trench and Godet; Young, erroneously "hornless" and so "harmless"). "Uncontaminated" seems to be the idea of the apostle. He would have those to whom he wrote "wise as regards good" and not ignorant as regards evil-for that would be impossible, even if desirable-but without that kind of knowledge of evil that comes from engaging in it, as we say, mixing themselves up with it, unalloyed with evil.
W. M. McPheeters
Greek
573. haplous --simple, single...simple, single. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: haplous Phonetic Spelling:
(hap-looce') Short Definition: single,
simple, sound Definition: single
...3516. nepios -- an infant, fig. asimple-minded or immature person
... asimple-minded or immature person. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: nepios
Phonetic Spelling: (nay'-pee-os) Short Definition: an infant, child...
172. akakos -- guileless
... guileless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akakos Phonetic Spelling:
(ak'-ak-os) Short Definition: innocent, guileless,simple Definition: innocent...
185. akeraios -- unmixed, pure
... unmixed, pure. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akeraios Phonetic Spelling:
(ak-er'-ah-yos) Short Definition:simple, unsophisticated, innocent...
4425. ptuon -- a winnowing shovel
... a winnowing shovel. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: ptuon Phonetic
Spelling: (ptoo'-on) Short Definition: asimple wooden pitchfork Definition: a...
3387. me tis -- any
... any Or me tis (may tis) from me and tis; whether any -- any (sometimes unexpressed
except by thesimple interrogative form of the sentence). see GREEK me....
2130. eumetadotos -- ready to impart
... is gained, ). If this is indeed the meaning of the , then it transforms
simple 'sharing' into a full-fledged virtue. The teaching...
2398. idios -- one's own, distinct
... 2398 (a primitive word, ) -- properly, , to the. 2398 ("uniquely one's own")
is "stronger than thesimple possessive pronoun ('own')....
4735. stephanos -- that which surrounds, ie a crown
... a chaplet (as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a symbol of honor
generally; but more conspicuous and elaborate than thesimple fillet, diadema...
1936. epithesis -- a laying on, an assault
... the laying on of .". Thissimple procedure looks to the Lord for guidance
and to pass on confirmation of His will. It is the principal...
Strong's Hebrew
6601b. pathah -- to besimple... 6601a, 6601b. pathah. 6602 . to be
simple. Transliteration: pathah Short
Definition: entice. Word Origin denominative verb from
...6612a. pethi --simple, perhaps open-minded
... 6612, 6612a. pethi. 6612b .simple, perhaps open-minded. Transliteration:
pethi Short Definition: naive. Word Origin from pathah...
6612. pthiy --simple, perhaps open-minded
... 6611, 6612. pthiy. 6612a .simple, perhaps open-minded. Transliteration: pthiy
Phonetic Spelling: (peth-ee') Short Definition: one. foolish, simplicity, one...
6612b. pethi -- simplicity
... simplicity. Transliteration: pethi Short Definition:simple-minded. Word Origin
from pathah Definition simplicity NASB Word Usagesimple-minded (1)....
6615. pethiyyuth -- simplicity
... Word Origin from pathah Definition simplicity NASB Word Usage naive (1).simple.
From pthiy; silliness (ie Seducibility) --simple. see HEBREW pthiy....
3808. lo -- not
... before, or else, ere, except, ignorant, much, less, nay,. Or lowi {lo}; or loh
(Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (thesimple or abs....
6601. pathah -- to be spacious, wide or open
... A primitive root; to open, ie Be (causatively, make) roomy; usually figuratively
(in a mental or moral sense) to be (causatively, make)simple or (in a...
2181. zanah -- to commit fornication, be a harlot
... A primitive root (highly-fed and therefore wanton); to commit adultery (usually
of the female, and less often ofsimple fornication, rarely of involuntary...
5012. naba -- to prophesy
... A primitive root; to prophesy, ie Speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction
orsimple discourse) -- prophesy(-ing), make self a prophet. 5011, 5012....
Library
Simple Trust
...Simple Trust. Still, still, without ceasing, I feel it increasing,. This fervour
of holy desire; And often exclaim,. Let me die in the flame....
Whether God is AltogetherSimple?
... OF THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether God is altogethersimple?
Objection 1: It seems that God is not altogethersimple....
Conclusion and this is the Perspicuous,Simple, and Ingenuous...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Conclusion And this is the perspicuous,simple, and
ingenuous declaration of the orthodox doctrine respecting the?...
How theSimple and the Crafty are to be Admonished.
... How thesimple and the crafty are to be admonished. (Admonition 12.)
Differently to be admonished are thesimple and the insincere....
The Sacrament of the Altar: theSimple Way a Father Should Present...
... I. The Ten Commandments: TheSimple Way a Father Should Present Them to
His Household VI. The Sacrament of the Altar: TheSimple...
Whether God is AltogetherSimple
... Article Seven Whether God is AltogetherSimple. Whether God is AltogetherSimple...
1. It seems that God is not altogethersimple. God's creatures resemble him....
ASimple Sermon for Seeking Souls
... ASimple Sermon for Seeking Souls.... There is nothing whatever puzzles me more, and
tries my mind more, than the answer to thatsimple question, What is faith?...
Question Three of theSimple Nature of God
... Question Three OF THESIMPLE NATURE OF GOD. OF THESIMPLE NATURE OF GOD... We shall
therefore inquire into thesimple nature of God which repels composition....
Of theSimple and Unchangeable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy...
... Book XI. Chapter 10."Of theSimple and Unchangeable Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, One God, in Whom Substance and Quality are Identical....
Simple and Compound.
... Book VIII. Chapter IX."Simple and Compound. Then Niceta began as follows:
[814] "Everything that is, is eithersimple or compound....
Thesaurus
Simple (40 Occurrences)... 1. (a.) Single; not complex; not infolded or entangled; uncombined; not compounded;
not blended with something else; not complicated; as, a
simple substance; a
...Simple-minded (4 Occurrences)
Simple-minded. Simplehearted,Simple-minded. Simpleness .... (a.) Artless; guileless;
simple-hearted; undesigning; unsuspecting; devoid of duplicity....
Naive (16 Occurrences)
... NIV). Proverbs 1:4 To make thesimple-minded sharp, and to give the young
man knowledge, and serious purpose: (See NAS). Proverbs...
Thoughtless (17 Occurrences)
... Proverbs 1:22 How long, yesimple ones, will ye love simplicity?... Proverbs 8:5 O ye
simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart....
Simpleness (2 Occurrences)
... (n.) The quality or state of beingsimple; simplicity.... (DBY). Proverbs 9:6 Forsake
ye, thesimple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding. (See RSV)....
Simplicity (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality or state of beingsimple, unmixed,
or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths....
Year (4027 Occurrences)
... distinct factors constituting the essential features of the Jubilee Year: personal
liberty, restitution of property, and what we might call thesimple life....
Prudent (40 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV NIV). Proverbs 14:15 Asimple man believes
everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways....
Jubilee (25 Occurrences)
... distinct factors constituting the essential features of the Jubilee Year: personal
liberty, restitution of property, and what we might call thesimple life....
Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... god'-hed: The word "Godhead" is asimple doublet of the less frequently occurring
"Godhood." Both forms stand side by side in the Ancren Riwle (about 1225 AD...
Resources
What is the simple church movement? Is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the organic church? | GotQuestions.orgWho are the Amish, and what are their beliefs? | GotQuestions.orgSimple: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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