The term "guileless" refers to a state of being free from deceit, cunning, or craftiness. In the context of the Bible, it describes a person who is sincere, honest, and straightforward, embodying a purity of heart and intention that aligns with the teachings of Scripture.

Biblical References:

1. John 1:47 : In the New Testament, Jesus Himself uses the term to describe Nathanael. "When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, 'Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.'" The Greek word used here is "dolos," which is often translated as "deceit" or "guile." Jesus commends Nathanael for his honesty and transparency, highlighting the virtue of being guileless.

2. 1 Peter 2:1 : The Apostle Peter exhorts believers to rid themselves of deceit. "Rid yourselves, therefore, of all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander." This passage underscores the importance of living a life free from guile as part of the Christian call to holiness and integrity.

3. 1 Peter 2:22 : Speaking of Christ, Peter writes, "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth." Jesus is presented as the ultimate example of a guileless life, perfectly embodying truth and sincerity in all His words and actions.

Theological Significance:

In the biblical worldview, being guileless is closely associated with the concept of purity of heart. It is a characteristic that reflects the nature of God Himself, who is described as being without deceit (Numbers 23:19). The guileless person mirrors this divine attribute, striving to live a life of integrity and truthfulness.

Practical Application:

For believers, the call to be guileless is a call to authenticity in their relationship with God and others. It involves a commitment to truth, both in speech and action, and a rejection of duplicity and manipulation. This quality is essential for fostering trust and genuine community within the body of Christ.

Related Concepts:

· Sincerity: Closely related to guilelessness, sincerity involves being genuine and free from pretense. The Apostle Paul often emphasizes sincerity in his letters, urging believers to love without hypocrisy (Romans 12:9).

· Integrity: A life of integrity is marked by consistency between one's beliefs and actions. The guileless person is one whose life is characterized by such integrity, reflecting the truth of the Gospel in every aspect.

· Purity of Heart: Jesus teaches in the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). Purity of heart is a foundational aspect of being guileless, as it denotes a heart undivided in its devotion to God.

In summary, the concept of being guileless is deeply rooted in the biblical call to live a life of truth, sincerity, and integrity, reflecting the character of Christ and fostering genuine relationships within the Christian community.(a.) Frank; honest; artless.172. akakos -- guileless
... guileless. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: akakos Phonetic Spelling:
(ak'-ak-os) Short Definition: innocent, guileless, simple Definition: innocent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/172.htm - 7k

97. adolos -- guileless, genuine
... guileless, genuine. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: adolos Phonetic Spelling:
(ad'-ol-os) Short Definition: pure Definition: unadulterated, pure ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/97.htm - 7k

Ephesians iv. 31
... Have ye a mind that I again make what I am saying plain to you by an instance, by
setting before you the portraits of a treacherous and a guileless man? ...
/.../homily xv ephesians iv 31.htm

Twenty-Sixth Day. Guilelessness.
... "Neither was guile found in His mouth.""1 Pet. ii.22. How rare, and all the more
beautiful because of its rarity, is a purely guileless spirit! ...
/.../macduff/the mind of jesus/twenty-sixth day guilelessness.htm

Bad Ecclesiastics and Base Plots
... In the guileless straightforwardness of his disposition he was unaware of the fact
that the first two were wholly out of sympathy with himself, even if they ...
/.../chapter xxxix bad ecclesiastics and.htm

A Homily on Guria and Shamuna, Composed by Mar Jacob.
... Despising as they did kindred and family, guileless were they; ... Nor guileless only:
for in the judgment-hall with the wisdom of serpents too. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/unknown/the decretals/a homily on guria and.htm

From all Thy Saints in Warfare, for all Thy Saints at Rest
... cares. Lord, grant us hearts as guileless and crowns as bright as theirs. ...
knew. Like him may we be guileless, true Israelites indeed,. ...
/.../holy days general for saints.htm

The Child in the Midst.
... or degrade him in any way; do anything to rob a child of any of these Divine gifts,
rob him of his innocence, or trustfulness, or his guileless heart, and sow ...
//christianbookshelf.org/percival/sermons at rugby/ii the child in the.htm

All who Walk According to Truth are Children of God.
... Rightly, then, are those called children who know Him who is God alone as their
Father, who are simple, and infants, and guileless, who are lovers of the horns ...
/.../clement/the instructor paedagogus/chapter v all who walk according.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xxi. 19, Where Jesus Dried up ...
... what it is that the Lord would say to "the Israelite without guile"); "Verily I
say unto you, Ye shall see heaven opened" (hear, thou guileless Nathanael, what ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xxxix on the words.htm

Desire of Ignatius for Martyrdom.
... [1400] The text here is somewhat doubtful. [1401] Literally, "any of the faint-hearted
and more guileless.". [1402] This word is of doubtful authority. ...
/.../pearson/the martyrdom of ignatius/chapter i desire of ignatius for.htm

The Blessed and Glorious Ever-virgin Mary, Sprung from the Royal ...
... Their life was guileless and right before the Lord, and irreproachable and pious
before men. For they divided all their substance into three parts. ...
/.../unknown/the gospel of the nativity of mary/chapter 1 the blessed and.htm

Guileless (3 Occurrences)
...Guileless (3 Occurrences). Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst
of wolves; be therefore prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the doves. ...
/g/guileless.htm - 7k

Guile (21 Occurrences)
... Version, margin "reasonable," the American Revised Version, margin, Greek "belonging
to the reason" (compare Romans 12:1 1 Peter 2:2); "guileless" for "harmless ...
/g/guile.htm - 15k

Simple (40 Occurrences)
... James Version the same word is rendered "harmless," the rendering of the Revised
Version (British and American) in this instance being "guileless." This would ...
/s/simple.htm - 21k

Needed (59 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 7:26 Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless,
undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens; (WEY). ...
/n/needed.htm - 25k

Obedience (61 Occurrences)
... is asserted by the New Testament writers: "without sin" (Hebrews 4:15); "who knew
no sin" (2 Corinthians 5:21); "holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from ...
/o/obedience.htm - 43k

Isaac (127 Occurrences)
... habitual submission to her strong, loving will." His life was so quiet and uneventful
that it was spent "within the circle of a few miles; so guileless that he ...
/i/isaac.htm - 60k

Exalted (126 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 7:26 Moreover we needed just such a High Priest as this--holy, guileless,
undefiled, far removed from sinful men and exalted above the heavens; (WEY ...
/e/exalted.htm - 34k

Prudent (40 Occurrences)
... Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves; be therefore
prudent as the serpents, and guileless as the doves. (DBY). ...
/p/prudent.htm - 20k

Pure (160 Occurrences)
... compassion. 2. (superl.) Free from moral defilement or quilt; hence, innocent;
guileless; chaste; -- applied to persons. 3. (superl ...
/p/pure.htm - 39k

Simple-minded (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (a.) Artless; guileless; simple-hearted; undesigning;
unsuspecting; devoid of duplicity. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/s/simple-minded.htm - 7k

Guileless: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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