Topical Encyclopedia
The term "simply" in a biblical context often refers to the idea of purity, sincerity, and straightforwardness in one's actions, thoughts, and faith. While the word "simply" itself may not frequently appear in the Bible, the concept is deeply embedded in the teachings and narratives of Scripture. The Bible encourages believers to live lives marked by simplicity, both in their relationship with God and with others.
Simplicity in Faith and DevotionThe Bible emphasizes the importance of a simple and sincere faith. In
2 Corinthians 11:3 , the Apostle Paul expresses concern for the Corinthian church, saying, "But I am afraid that just as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ." Here, simplicity is associated with purity and devotion, suggesting that a straightforward, undivided commitment to Christ is essential for believers.
Simplicity in Speech and ConductThe Scriptures also advocate for simplicity in speech and conduct. Jesus Himself taught about the importance of straightforward communication in
Matthew 5:37 : "But let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes,' and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more comes from the evil one." This teaching underscores the value of honesty and integrity, encouraging believers to avoid deceit and complexity in their interactions.
Simplicity in LifestyleThe Bible often calls for a simple lifestyle, free from the distractions and entanglements of material wealth. In
1 Timothy 6:6-8 , Paul writes, "Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these." This passage highlights the virtue of contentment and the importance of focusing on spiritual rather than material wealth.
Simplicity in WorshipWorship in the Bible is often depicted as a simple, heartfelt expression of reverence and adoration for God. Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well in
John 4:23-24 reveals that true worship is not about elaborate rituals but about worshiping "in spirit and truth." This indicates that God values the sincerity and simplicity of the worshiper's heart over external complexities.
Simplicity in Love and ServiceThe call to love and serve others is another area where simplicity is emphasized. In
Galatians 5:14 , Paul states, "The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" This command distills the complexity of the law into a simple, actionable principle, highlighting the straightforward nature of genuine Christian love and service.
ConclusionWhile the Bible may not frequently use the word "simply," the concept of simplicity is woven throughout its teachings. Whether in faith, speech, lifestyle, worship, or love, the call to simplicity is a call to authenticity, purity, and a focus on what truly matters in the Christian life.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
adv.) In a simple manner or state; considered in or by itself; without addition; along; merely; solely; barely.
2. (adv.) Plainly; without art or subtlety.
3. (adv.) Weakly; foolishly.
Greek
574. haplos --simply, sincerely...simply, sincerely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: haplos Phonetic Spelling:
(hap-loce') Short Definition:
simply, sincerely Definition:
simply...4908. sunetos -- intelligent
... 4908 ("understanding") from faith ("God's inbirthed ")simply expresses the limitations
(biases) of the thinker -- which is the usual (negative) connotation of...
3316. mesites -- an arbitrator, a mediator
... mediator. From mesos; a go-between, ie (simply) an internunciator, or (by implication)
a reconciler (intercessor) -- mediator. see GREEK mesos....
5010. taxis -- an arranging, order
... cohort") -- descending . This term suggests a ordering rather thansimply
a general of an army (as also in Thucydides, etc.).]. Word...
3418. mnema -- a memorial, a sepulcher
... Cognate: 3418 (a neuter noun derived from 3415 , "to remember") -- the generic term
for "." 3418 ("tomb") issimply an identifiable sepulcher (the resting...
2999. latreia -- service
... Transliteration: latreia Phonetic Spelling: (lat-ri'-ah) Short Definition: service,
worship Definition: service rendered to God, perhapssimply: worship....
1223. dia -- through, on account of, because of
... [1223 () is a root of the English term meter ("across to the other side, ").
Before a vowel, issimply written .]. Word Origin a prim....
3440. monon -- merely
... Word Origin adverb from monos Definition merely NASB Word Usage only (53),simply
(2). alone, but, only. Neuter of monos as adverb; merely -- alone, but, only....
4236. praotes -- meekness.
... force. For the believer, 4236 ("") is () (Gal 5:23), ie it is never something
humanly accomplished (orsimply "biological"). Word...
2417. hierosulos -- robbing temples
... hierosulos Phonetic Spelling: (hee-er-os'-oo-los) Short Definition: robbing temples,
sacrilegious Definition: robbing temples, but possiblysimply: sacrilegious...
Strong's Hebrew
1145. Ben-yemini -- a descendant of Benjamin... 20:1)
simply Yminiy {yem-ee-nee'}; a Jeminite; (plural Bniy Ymiyniy {ben- ay'
yem-ee-nee'}; patron from Binyamiyn; a Benjaminite, or descendent of Benjamin
...6446. pas -- flat (of the hand or foot)
... From pacac; properly, the palm (of the hand) or sole (of the foot) (compare pac);
by implication (plural) a long and sleeved tunic (perhapssimply a wide one...
7105. qatsiyr -- harvesting, harvest
... From qatsar; severed, ie Harvest (as reaped), the crop, the time, the reaper, or
figuratively; also a limb (of a tree, orsimply foliage) -- bough, branch...
1397. geber -- man
... every one, man, mighty. From gabar; properly, a valiant man or warrior; generally,
a personsimply -- every one, man, X mighty. see HEBREW gabar. 1396, 1397....
5852. Ataroth -- the name of several places in Isr.
... Ataroth. Or Ataroth {at-aw-roth'}; plural of atarah; Ataroth, the name (thussimply)
of two places in Palestine -- Ataroth. see HEBREW atarah. 5851, 5852....
7157. Qiryath Yearim -- "city of forests," a city given to Judah...
... 18:28)simply the former part of the word; or Qiryath tariym {keer-yath' aw-reem'};
from qiryah and the plural of ya'ar or iyr; city of forests, or city of...
3130. Yoseph -- "he increases," a son of Jacob, also the name of...
... Joseph. Future of yacaph; let him add (or perhapssimply active participle adding);
Joseph, the name of seven Israelites -- Joseph. Compare Yhowceph....
2710. chaqaq -- to cut in, inscribe, decree
... A primitive root; properly, to hack, ie Engrave (Judges 5:14, to be a scribesimply);
by implication, to enact (laws being cut in stone or metal tablets in...
5871. Ayin -- a spring (of water)
... Ain The same as ayin; fountain; Ajin, the name (thussimply) of two places in Palestine
-- Ain. see HEBREW ayin. 5870b, 5871. Ayin. 5871a . Strong's Numbers
2674. Chatsor -- the name of several places in Palestine, also one...
... Hazor. A collective form of chatser; village; Chatsor, the name (thussimply) of
two places in Palestine and of one in Arabia -- Hazor. see HEBREW chatser....
Library
Whether Fear Causes InvoluntarinessSimply?
... TREATISE ON HUMAN ACTS: ACTS PECULIAR TO MAN (QQ -21)OF THE VOLUNTARY AND THE
INVOLUNTARY (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether fear causes involuntarinesssimply?...
"Simply Murdered"
... CHAPTER XV "Simply Murdered". "'Agonia'"that word so often on St. Paul's lips, what
did it mean? Did it not just mean the thousand wearinesses . . ....
Who Teach: that God,Simply by virtue of his Righteous Will...
... First Head of Doctrine. Divine Election and Reprobation Paragraph 8 Who
teach: That God,simply by virtue of His righteous will?...
The Heathen Gods wereSimply Men.
... Chapter XXVIII."The Heathen Gods WereSimply Men. But it is perhaps necessary,
in accordance with what has already been adduced...
The New Testament Immediately Emancipated Itself from the...
... ORIGIN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT 1. The New Testament immediately emancipated itself
from the conditions of its origin, and claimed to be regarded assimply a gift...
Dreams Variously Classified Some are God-Sent, as the Dreams of...
... Chapter XLVII."Dreams Variously Classified Some are God-Sent, as the Dreams
of Nebuchadnezzar; OthersSimply Products of Nature....
God is not a Being of Simple Goodness; Other Attributes Belong to...
... Attributes Belong to Him. Marcion Shows Inconsistency in the Portraiture
of HisSimply Good and Emotionless God. As touching this...
Natural Philosophy Teaches us the Causes and Effects of all Bodies...
... THE THIRD CENTURY 44 Natural philosophy teaches us the causes and effects
of all bodiessimply and in themselves. Natural philosophy...
In the Next Place, Celsus, after Heaping Together,Simply as Mere...
... Chapter L. In the next place, Celsus, after heaping together,simply as
mere assertions? In the next place, Celsus, after heaping...
The Question Answered. Justification is GraceSimply and Entirely...
... A Treatise on grace and free will, Chapter 20."The Question Answered. Justification
is GraceSimply and Entirely, Eternal Life is Reward and Grace....
Thesaurus
Simply (27 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance
Simply (27 Occurrences). Matthew 5:37 But let your words
be
simply, Yes or No: and whatever is more than these is of the Evil One.
...Sirach
... In the Greek manuscripts the heading is Sophia Iesou huiou Sirach (or Seirach),
"The Wisdom of Jesus, son of Sirach" (so "A"); orsimply Sophia Seirach (B...
Curse (211 Occurrences)
... Perhaps theysimply mean that as nothing but death was expected, God would by this
cursing at once interpose and destroy Job, and so put an end to his...
Queen (59 Occurrences)
... In Psalm 45:9, the Hebrew for "queen" is not malkah, one actually ruling like the
Queen of Sheba, but shegal, whichsimply means the king's wife....
Immortal (3 Occurrences)
... of ideas, especially where the Biblical doctrine is concerned, than in this of
"immortality." By "immortality" is frequently meantsimply the survival of the...
Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "the man"); in the same verse
"fellow" is supplied instead of "he"; "fellow" in 1611 meantsimply "a man...
Immortality (6 Occurrences)
... of ideas, especially where the Biblical doctrine is concerned, than in this of
"immortality." By "immortality" is frequently meantsimply the survival of the...
Anathema (6 Occurrences)
... possible thing. It issimply a vehement expression of feeling, showing how
strong was his desire for the salvation of his people. The...
Almost (27 Occurrences)
... The clause in which the phrase occurs meanssimply, "as I said a little while
ago"-the addition of en oligo merely indicates that the interval indicated by pro...
Seed (337 Occurrences)
... So "to show one's seed" (Ezra 2:59 Nehemiah 7:61) is to display one's genealogy,
and "one's seed" may besimply one's nation, conceived of as a single family...
Resources
What is theodicy? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is truth? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the doctrine of eternal Sonship and is it biblical? | GotQuestions.orgSimply: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
Bible Encyclopedia •
Topical Bible •
Bible Thesuarus
