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 Worship

The 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 Commands

The 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 Superficiality

The 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 Works

James 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.

Conclusion

While 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.1. (adv.) Purely; unmixedly; absolutely.

2. (adv.) Not otherwise than; simply; barely; only.

3440. monon -- merely
... merely. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: monon Phonetic Spelling: (mon'-on)
Short Definition: alone, but, only Definition: alone, but, only. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3440.htm - 6k

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 someone merely to be a. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4210.htm - 6k

3403. mimnesko -- to remind, remember
... in mind, "be mindful of.". 3403 () means " remember" (ie ) -- not off-handedly
or merely incidentally. [3403 should be treated (semantically ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3403.htm - 7k

202. akroates -- a hearer
... hearer. From akroaomai (to listen; apparently an intensive of akouo); a hearer
(merely) -- hearer. see GREEK akouo. (akroatai) -- 2 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/202.htm - 6k

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 passages merely by: sacrifice ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/536.htm - 6k

4561. sarx -- flesh
... nature, materiality; kindred. 4561 properly, ("carnal"), merely . [4561
("flesh") is not always evil in Scripture. Indeed, it is ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4561.htm - 8k

3068. louo -- to bathe, to wash
... Definition: (lit. or merely ceremonially), I wash, bathe (the body); mid: of
washing, bathing one's self; met: I cleanse from sin. 3068 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3068.htm - 7k

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 not merely to the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/99.htm - 6k

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 cases merely honorary. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/752.htm - 8k

2864. kome -- hair
... Apparently from the same as komizo; the hair of the head (locks, as ornamental,
and thus differing from thrix; which properly denotes merely the scalp) -- hair ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2864.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/7535.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/1571.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/4592.htm - 6k

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.
/hebrew/6985.htm - 6k

Fragment iii. For the Controversy is not Merely as Regards the Day ...
... Fragment III. For the controversy is not merely as regards the day? For
[4800] the controversy is not merely as regards the day ...
/.../fragment iii for the controversy.htm

Whether Wisdom is Merely Speculative, or Practical Also?
... OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM (SIX ARTICLES) Whether wisdom is merely speculative, or practical
also? ... But wisdom, as an intellectual virtue, is merely speculative. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether wisdom is merely speculative.htm

Whether the Gift of Understanding is Merely Speculative or Also ...
... OF THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING (EIGHT ARTICLES) Whether the gift of understanding
is merely speculative or also practical? Objection ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the gift of understanding 2.htm

But we Merely, You Say, Flatter the Emperor, and Feign These ...
... Chapter XXXI. But we merely, you say, flatter the emperor, and feign these
prayers of ours to? But we merely, you say, flatter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxxi but we merely.htm

Christ's Discourse against the Merely Outward Cleanliness of the ...
... Section 173. Christ's Discourse against the merely outward Cleanliness of the
Pharisees."He explains the Discourse to his Disciples. (Matt., xv., 1.-20.). ...
/.../section 173 christs discourse against.htm

As Many as have not Merely Apostatized, but have Risen against ...
... Canon IX. As many as have not merely apostatized, but have risen against
their brethren and forced? As many as have not merely ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon ix as many as.htm

That None Can Become Perfect Merely 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 ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter x that none can.htm

Concerning those who have Yielded Merely Upon Threat of Penalties ...
... Canon VI. Concerning those who have yielded merely upon threat of penalties
and of the confiscation of? Concerning those who have ...
/.../schaff/the seven ecumenical councils/canon vi concerning those who.htm

Whether, in Prophetic Revelation, New Species of Things are ...
... Whether, in prophetic revelation, new species of things are impressed on
the prophet's mind, or merely a new light? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in prophetic revelation new.htm

Whether the Ceremonial Precepts have a Literal Cause or Merely a ...
... OF THE CAUSES OF THE CEREMONIAL PRECEPTS (SIX ARTICLES) Whether the ceremonial
precepts have a literal cause or merely a figurative cause? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the ceremonial precepts have.htm

Merely (30 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) Purely; unmixedly; absolutely. 2. (adv.) Not otherwise than; simply;
barely; only. Multi-Version Concordance Merely (30 Occurrences). ...
/m/merely.htm - 15k

Earthly (39 Occurrences)
... In Plutarch Mor. 566 D, it occurs in the remarkable phrase, "that which is earthly
of the soul." Its meaning is primarily merely local ("being on the earth"). ...
/e/earthly.htm - 22k

Amon (20 Occurrences)
... His short reign was merely incidental in the history of Judah; just long enough
to reveal the traits and tendencies which directly or indirectly led to his ...
/a/amon.htm - 18k

Guilt (180 Occurrences)
... The man is guilty, not because he might or should have known; he may merely have
touched unwittingly the body of an unclean beast (Leviticus 5:2, 3). The guilt ...
/g/guilt.htm - 46k

Eternity (23 Occurrences)
... 1. Contrast with Time: Eternity is best conceived, not in the merely negative form
of the non-temporal, or immeasurable time, but positively, as the mode of ...
/e/eternity.htm - 24k

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 ...
/a/anthropomorphism.htm - 20k

Righteousness (442 Occurrences)
... rendered to him. Merely to escape the penalties of an angry deity the
group demanded ceremonial religious observances. From the ...
/r/righteousness.htm - 56k

Godhead (5 Occurrences)
... Thus, "the Godhead" is frequently employed merely as a somewhat strong synonym of
"God" although usually with more or less emphasis upon that in God which ...
/g/godhead.htm - 22k

Omnipotence (2 Occurrences)
... apparent. The divine power operates not merely in single concrete acts,
but is comprehensively related to the world as such. Both ...
/o/omnipotence.htm - 24k

Revelation (52 Occurrences)
... (see WORD OF GOD.) The Scriptures are not merely the "record" of revelation; they
are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate ...
/r/revelation.htm - 89k

What is the Swoon Theory? Did Jesus survive the crucifixion? | GotQuestions.org

What is nominalism? What is a nominalist? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to make a joyful noise unto the Lord? | GotQuestions.org

Merely: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus