Definition and Concept
Simplicity, in a biblical context, refers to the quality of being uncomplicated, sincere, and free from duplicity or deceit. It is often associated with purity of heart and a straightforwardness in one's relationship with God and others. Simplicity is not merely an external lifestyle choice but an internal disposition that reflects a heart aligned with God's will.

Biblical References
The Bible speaks to the virtue of simplicity in various passages, emphasizing its importance in the life of a believer. In 2 Corinthians 11:3, the Apostle 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, simplicity is linked to a pure and undivided devotion to Christ, contrasting with the complexity and deceit introduced by the serpent.

In the Old Testament, simplicity is often associated with wisdom and integrity. Proverbs 11:3 states, "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of the faithless destroys them." The upright, characterized by simplicity and integrity, are guided by their straightforwardness and honesty.

Simplicity in Jesus' Teachings
Jesus Christ exemplified and taught simplicity throughout His ministry. In the Sermon on the Mount, He instructed His followers to live without anxiety over material needs, emphasizing trust in God's provision. Matthew 6:25-34 encourages believers to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, promising that all necessary things will be added to them. This teaching underscores a life of simplicity, free from the complexities and worries of materialism.

Moreover, Jesus commended childlike faith, which embodies simplicity. In Matthew 18:3, He said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Children are often seen as models of simplicity due to their trust, humility, and lack of pretense.

Simplicity in Christian Living
The early Christian community practiced simplicity in their communal life. Acts 2:44-46 describes how believers shared their possessions and lived with "glad and sincere hearts," reflecting a simple and generous lifestyle. This communal simplicity was a testament to their unity and love for one another.

The Apostle Paul also encouraged simplicity in personal conduct. In Romans 12:8, he advises, "if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." The call to perform these acts with sincerity and cheerfulness highlights the simplicity of heart that should characterize Christian service.

Simplicity and Contentment
Simplicity is closely related to contentment, as seen in 1 Timothy 6:6-8: "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that." This passage encourages believers to find satisfaction in basic necessities, fostering a simple life that prioritizes spiritual over material wealth.

Warnings Against Complexity
The Bible warns against the dangers of complexity and duplicity. James 1:8 describes a double-minded person as "unstable in all they do," highlighting the instability that comes from a lack of simplicity and single-minded devotion. Similarly, Jesus warned against the deceitfulness of wealth and the cares of this world, which can choke the word and make it unfruitful (Mark 4:19).

Conclusion
While simplicity is a virtue that permeates biblical teaching, it is not merely an external practice but a reflection of an inner transformation. It calls believers to a life of sincerity, integrity, and trust in God, free from the entanglements of worldly concerns.1. (n.) The quality or state of being simple, unmixed, or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths.

2. (n.) The quality or state of being not complex, or of consisting of few parts; as, the simplicity of a machine.

3. (n.) Artlessness of mind; freedom from cunning or duplicity; lack of acuteness and sagacity.

4. (n.) Freedom from artificial ornament, pretentious style, or luxury; plainness; as, simplicity of dress, of style, or of language; simplicity of diet; simplicity of life.

5. (n.) Freedom from subtlety or abstruseness; clearness; as, the simplicity of a doctrine; the simplicity of an explanation or a demonstration.

6. (n.) Weakness of intellect; silliness; folly.

SIMPLICITY

sim-plis'-i-ti (pethayyuth; haplotes): The words in the Old Testament commonly translated "simplicity" are pethi, "simple" (Proverbs 1:22), pethayyuth, "simplicity" (9:13 margin), tom, "completeness," "integrity" (2 Samuel 15:11), "They went in their simplicity." In the New Testament, haplotes, "singleness of mind," "simplicity," occurs in Romans 12:8, "He that giveth let him do it with simplicity," the Revised Version (British and American) "liberality," margin "Greek: `singleness' "; 2 Corinthians 1:12, "in simplicit and godly sincerity," the Revised Version (British and American) (with corrected text) "in holiness and sincerity of God"; 2 Corinthians 11:3, "the simplicity that is in Christ," the Revised Version (British and American) (with corrected text) "the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ"; compare Ephesians 6:5 Colossians 3:22, where the translation is "singleness" In The Wisdom of Solomon 1:1 we have, "Think ye of the Lord with a good mind (the King James Version "heart"), and in singleness (the King James Version "simplicity") of heart seek ye him" (haplotes). our Lord also speaks (Matthew 6:22 Luke 11:34) of the "single eye" (haplous), and James (1:5) applies haplos, "simply," "directly," without after-thought (the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "liberally") to God, who had been described by Plato (Rep. ii.382 E) as being perfectly simple (haplous) and true, both in word and deed. In such "simplicity"-openness, sincerity, freedom from double-mindedness-man most resembles God and is most open to His visitation and blessing.

W. L. Walker

572. haplotes -- singleness, hence simplicity
... singleness, hence simplicity. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: haplotes
Phonetic Spelling: (hap-lot'-ace) Short Definition: simplicity, sincerity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/572.htm - 7k

858. aphelotes -- simplicity
... simplicity. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: aphelotes Phonetic Spelling:
(af-el-ot'-ace) Short Definition: simplicity, sincerity Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/858.htm - 7k

6612b. pethi -- simplicity
... simplicity. Transliteration: pethi Short Definition: simple-minded. Word Origin
from pathah Definition simplicity NASB Word Usage simple-minded (1). ...
/hebrew/6612b.htm - 5k

6615. pethiyyuth -- simplicity
... 6614, 6615. pethiyyuth. 6616 . simplicity. Transliteration: pethiyyuth
Phonetic Spelling: (peth-ah-yooth') Short Definition: naive. ...
/hebrew/6615.htm - 6k

8537. tom -- completeness, integrity, also part of the high ...
... upright (1). full, integrity, perfection, simplicity, uprightly at a venture.
From tamam; completeness; figuratively, prosperity; usually ...
/hebrew/8537.htm - 6k

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 ...
/hebrew/6612.htm - 5k

On Sandals and Simplicity
... X. On Sandals and Simplicity. ... The only kind of simplicity worth preserving is the
simplicity of the heart, the simplicity which accepts and enjoys. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/x on sandals and simplicity.htm

Simplicity Toward Christ
... LXXXIX SIMPLICITY TOWARD CHRIST. 2 Corinthians xi.3. In listening, as we
have done, from day to day to Bishop Vincent, there has ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/lxxxix simplicity toward christ.htm

The Simplicity and Sublimity of Salvation
... The Simplicity and Sublimity of Salvation. A Sermon (No.2259). Intended for Reading
on Lord's-Day, June 5th, 1892,. Delivered by. CH SPURGEON,. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 38 1892/the simplicity and sublimity of.htm

The Simplicity of Christ.
... DEVOUT EXERCISES. 505. " The Simplicity of Christ. 505. 7s. M. C. Wesley.
The Simplicity of Christ. 1 Lord! that I may learn ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/505 the simplicity of.htm

Of the Simplicity of God (Eight Articles)
... OF THE SIMPLICITY OF GOD (EIGHT ARTICLES). ... Concerning His simplicity, there
are eight points of inquiry: (1) Whether God is a body? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/of the simplicity of god.htm

The Simplicity Indeed, Both of the Gospel Letter and Doctrine...
... Address 103: The simplicity indeed, both of the gospel letter and doctrine?
The simplicity indeed, both of the gospel letter and ...
/.../address 103 0 0 the simplicity indeed.htm

Want of Simplicity. October 10.
... Want of Simplicity. October 10. Faith and prayer are simple things, . . .
but when we begin to want faith, and to assist prayer ...
/.../kingsley/daily thoughts /want of simplicity october 10.htm

Eccles. 12:12 Simplicity in Preaching.
... CHAPTER III Eccles. 12:12. SIMPLICITY IN PREACHING. [3] KING SOLOMON says ...
That point is simplicity in language and style. I ought to ...
/.../chapter iii eccles 12 12 simplicity.htm

Peter's Simplicity of Life.
... Book VII. Chapter VI."Peter's Simplicity of Life. Then Peter, laughing, said: "And
do you not think, Clement, that very necessity must make you my servant? ...
/.../unknown/recognitions of clement /chapter vi peters simplicity of life.htm

The Testament of Issachar Concerning Simplicity.
... The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs. V."The Testament of Issachar Concerning
Simplicity. 1. The record of the words of Issachar. ...
/.../v the testament of issachar concerning.htm

Simplicity (12 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The quality or state of being simple, unmixed,
or uncompounded; as, the simplicity of metals or of earths. ...
/s/simplicity.htm - 13k

Integrity (46 Occurrences)
... in-teg'-ri-ti (tom, tummah): The translation of tom, "simplicity," "soundness,"
"completeness," rendered also "upright," "perfection." Its original sense ...
/i/integrity.htm - 22k

Bondmen (117 Occurrences)
... (BBE). Ephesians 6:5 Bondmen, obey masters according to flesh, with fear and
trembling, in simplicity of your heart as to the Christ; (DBY). ...
/b/bondmen.htm - 35k

Earthly (39 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager
anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ ...
/e/earthly.htm - 22k

Slaves (119 Occurrences)
... Ephesians 6:5 Slaves, be obedient to your earthly masters, with respect and eager
anxiety to please and with simplicity of motive as if you were obeying Christ ...
/s/slaves.htm - 34k

Simply (27 Occurrences)

/s/simply.htm - 14k

Purity (16 Occurrences)
... The maiden in the song goes forth in the night, in the simplicity of her heart,
to find her beloved (Songs 3:2). In the same simplicity, Evangeline wandered ...
/p/purity.htm - 30k

Epistles (2 Occurrences)
... occurs. The limitations in the range of ideas are matched by those of vocabulary
and by the unvarying simplicity of syntactical form. ...
/e/epistles.htm - 80k

Astronomy
... made the stars also' (Genesis 1:16). The extreme simplicity of this passage
is most significant. In marked contrast to the Bah creation ...
/a/astronomy.htm - 40k

You-ward (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that
in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the ...
/y/you-ward.htm - 9k

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