The term "simpler" does not appear directly in the Bible; however, the concept of simplicity is woven throughout Scripture, often associated with purity, humility, and a focus on the essentials of faith and life. In a biblical context, simplicity can be understood as a call to live a life that is unencumbered by the complexities and distractions of the world, focusing instead on a sincere devotion to God.

Simplicity in the Teachings of Jesus

Jesus Christ exemplified and taught simplicity in various aspects of His ministry. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasized the importance of seeking God's kingdom above material concerns: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). This teaching encourages believers to prioritize their spiritual lives over worldly possessions and anxieties.

Furthermore, Jesus instructed His followers to have a childlike faith, which can be seen as a form of simplicity: "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). This call to childlike faith suggests a return to a pure, uncomplicated trust in God.

Simplicity in the Early Church

The early Christian community also embraced simplicity, as seen in their communal lifestyle and shared resources. Acts 2:44-45 describes the early believers: "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they shared with anyone who was in need." This practice reflects a simplicity of life that prioritizes community and mutual support over individual wealth and accumulation.

Pauline Epistles and Simplicity

The Apostle Paul frequently addressed the theme of simplicity in his letters. In 2 Corinthians 11:3 , Paul expresses concern for the Corinthian church, saying, "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." Here, Paul warns against the complexities and deceptions that can distract believers from a straightforward and sincere relationship with Christ.

Paul also advises Timothy to lead a simple life, free from the love of money: "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out of it" (1 Timothy 6:6-7). This passage underscores the value of contentment and the dangers of materialism.

Old Testament Insights on Simplicity

The Old Testament also provides insights into the virtue of simplicity. The book of Proverbs often contrasts the wise and the foolish, with wisdom being associated with a simple, righteous life. Proverbs 15:16 states, "Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil." This proverb highlights the superiority of a simple life lived in reverence to God over one filled with wealth and strife.

Additionally, the prophet Micah encapsulates the essence of a simple, faithful life in Micah 6:8 : "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 distills the requirements of a godly life into three straightforward actions, emphasizing simplicity in devotion and conduct.

Conclusion

While the Bible does not explicitly use the term "simpler," the concept of simplicity is a recurring theme that encourages believers to focus on their relationship with God, live humbly, and prioritize spiritual over material wealth. Through the teachings of Jesus, the practices of the early church, and the wisdom of the Old and New Testaments, simplicity is presented as a virtue that leads to a more profound and sincere faith.(n.) One who collects simples, or medicinal plants; a herbalist; a simplist.4766. stronnuo -- to spread
... Or simpler stronnuo (strone-noo'-o), prolongation from a still simpler stroo
(stro'-o), (used only as an alternate in certain tenses) (probably akin to stereos ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4766.htm - 6k

3427. moi -- I, me, mine, my.
... Word Origin a simpler form of emoi, see ego. I, me, mine, my. The simpler form of
emoi; to me -- I, me, mine, my. see GREEK emoi. (moi) -- 225 Occurrences. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3427.htm - 6k

3450. mou -- I, me, mine own, my.
... Word Origin a simpler form of emou, see ego. I, me, mine own, my. The simpler
form of emou; of me -- I, me, mine (own), my. see GREEK emou. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3450.htm - 6k

2348. thnesko -- to die
... A strengthened form of a simpler primary thano than'-o (which is used for it only
in certain tenses); to die (literally or figuratively) -- be dead, die. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2348.htm - 7k

5215. humnos -- a hymn
... Apparently from a simpler (obsolete) form of hudeo (to celebrate; probably akin
to aido; compare abowt); a "hymn" or religious ode (one of the Psalms) -- hymn. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5215.htm - 7k

4078. pegnumi -- to make fast
... A prolonged form of a primary verb (which in its simpler form occurs only as an
alternate in certain tenses); to fix ("peg"), ie (specially) to set up (a tent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4078.htm - 6k

7158. Qiryath Sannah -- "city of writing," a city in Judah
... Or Qiryath Cepher {keer-yath' say-fer}; from qiryah and a simpler feminine from
the same as cancin, or (for the latter name) cepher; city of branches, or of a ...
/hebrew/7158.htm - 6k

The Simpler Interpretation of the Promise About not Tasting of ...
... Book XII. 31. The Simpler Interpretation of the Promise About Not Tasting
of Death. "Verily I say unto you there be some of them ...
/.../31 the simpler interpretation of.htm

The Law and the Liberty of Presbyterian Worship.
... that had hitherto been national and local, so its worship and organization were,
in large measure, the adaptation of familiar forms to those simpler and more ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/johnston/presbyterian worship/chapter i the law and.htm

Whether all Men Equally are Required to have Explicit Faith
... in Job 1:14: "The oxen were ploughing, and the asses feeding beside them." According
to Gregory, this means that in matters of faith the simpler minded, who ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/nature and grace/article six whether all men.htm

The Method of the New Theology, and Some of Its Applications
... We are told by others that what they see is the intricate theology of Paul beginning
to give place to the simpler theology of John, or both being for the time ...
/.../berkhof/new evangelism and other papers/the method of the new.htm

May.
... To those simpler children of a simpler age winter and spring were the two great
facts of existence; the symbols, the one of death, the other of life; and the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/daily thoughts /may.htm

Dogmatic.
... columns of Migne's edition. It professes to be a defence of the "simpler creed
which is common to all Christians." [311]. This creed is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/basil/basil letters and select works/i dogmatic.htm

Give us Today Our Needful Bread
... partake of any, he being denoted in the words One man hath faith to eat anything,
whereas the weaker and more immature is content with simpler teachings that ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xvii give us today.htm

Criticisms on "The Origin of Species. "
... proceeded from the earlier, the whole developmental series, from the simplest to
the highest, could not now exist; in such a case the simpler organisms must ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/xiii criticisms on the origin.htm

The Eastern Sects: Nestorians, Jacobites, Copts, Armenians.
... the Chalcedonian Christology, the Monophysite sects hold most of the doctrines,
institutions, and rites of the Orthodox Greek Church, but in simpler and less ...
/.../ 21 the eastern sects .htm

His Origenism.
... Accordingly Gregory, reducing the three parts of man which Origen had used to the
simpler division into visible and invisible (sensible and intelligible ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter iii his origenism.htm

Simpler (6 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Simpler (6 Occurrences). Matthew 9:5 For which is the
simpler, to say, You have forgiveness for your sins; or to say, Get up and go? ...
/s/simpler.htm - 8k

Table (125 Occurrences)
... Trapeza means "having four feet." 2 Kings 4:10 seems to indicate that a
table was a necessary article in even the simpler rooms. ...
/t/table.htm - 62k

Evolution
... This means that, according to the evidence furnished by geology, the simpler organisms
appeared earlier on the face of the earth than the more complex, and ...
/e/evolution.htm - 39k

Arabic
... genetic method, Arabic has been of the greatest value, through the comparison of
its cognate forms, where, in the main, the Arabic has the simpler, fuller and ...
/a/arabic.htm - 17k

Simplicity (12 Occurrences)

/s/simplicity.htm - 13k

Versions
... A very fine translation of the entire Bible in classical Arabic has been issued
by the Jesuit Fathers in Beirut, and a simpler version in Arabic which can be ...
/v/versions.htm - 81k

Nazirite (10 Occurrences)
... freely with them, the local worship, full of tempting Dionysiac elements, brought
forth this religious protest in favor of Israel's ancient and simpler way of ...
/n/nazirite.htm - 21k

Obey (219 Occurrences)
... o-be'-di-ens, o-ba (shama`; hupakoe): 1. Meaning of Terms: In its simpler Old Testament
meaning the word signifies "to hear," "to listen." It carries with it ...
/o/obey.htm - 39k

Tithe (30 Occurrences)
... later practice of the nation; but the payment of tithes is so ancient and deeply
rooted in the history of the human race that it seems much simpler and more ...
/t/tithe.htm - 28k

Rudiments (5 Occurrences)
... teaching of Paul. "This is probably the correct interpretation, both as simpler
in itself and as suiting the context better. Paul seems ...
/r/rudiments.htm - 13k

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Simpler: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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