Simplicity

The Simple

Psa_19:7; Psa_116:6; Psa_119:126-130; Pro_1:22; Pro_14:15; Pro_14:18; Pro_19:25; Pro_21:11; Pro_22:3; Pro_27:12.

SIMPLICITY

1. In the OT ‘simple’ is, with one exception, the translation of a word (pĕthî), whose root-idea is ‘openness.’ Openness of mind is praiseworthy when it implies willingness to receive instruction; it becomes blameworthy when it connotes a disposition equally receptive of good and of evil, or an incapacity to distinguish between right and wrong. In Proverbs ‘the simple’ are represented as needing ‘prudence’ (Pro 1:4 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ), and they are exhorted to ‘understand prudence’ (Pro 8:5 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] ). In Pro 14:15; Pro 14:18 ‘the prudent’ are favourably contrasted with ‘the simple’ who ‘believe every word,’ and therefore ‘inherit folly.’ It is ‘the testimony of the Lord’ that makes the simple wise (Psa 19:7; cf. Psa 119:130). In 2Sa 15:11 ‘simplicity’ means ‘integrity’ (tôm). In the LXX [Note: Septuagint.] the Heb. word (yôsher) for ‘straightness’ or ‘uprightness’ is translated by the NT equivalent of ‘simplicity’ (haplotçs).

2. In the NT ‘simple’ (akeraios = Lat. integer) is used twice (Mat 10:16 RVm [Note: Revised Version margin.] , Rom 16:19) to describe the character in which there is ‘no foreign admixture’; the RV [Note: Revised Version.] retains ‘simplicity’ as the rendering of haplotçs only in 2Co 11:3, where it denotes those in whose character there are ‘no folds,’ who are whole-hearted in their devotion to Christ (Trench, NT Synonyms, § lvi.). The Christian ideal is ‘simplicity toward Christ’ (2Co 11:3). In the life of His loyal disciples dove-like simplicity is blended with the wisdom of the serpent (Mat 10:16). Their ‘eye’ being ‘single’ (haplous), their ‘whole body’ is ‘full of light’ (Mat 6:22). Christ Jesus being made unto them ‘wisdom from God’ (1Co 1:30), they are no longer beguiled like Eve, but are ‘wise unto that which is good, and simple unto that which is evil’ (Rom 16:19).

J. G. Tasker.

sim-plis´i-ti (פּתיּוּת, p^ethayyūth; ἁπλότης, haplótēs): The words in the Old Testament commonly translated “simplicity” are pethı̄, “simple” (Pro 1:22), p^ethayyūth, “simplicity” (Rom 9:13 margin), tōm, “completeness,” “integrity” (2Sa 15:11), “They went in their simplicity.” In the New Testament, haplotēs, “singleness of mind,” “simplicity,” occurs in Rom 12:8, “He that giveth let him do it with simplicity,” the Revised Version (British and American) “liberality,” margin “Greek: ’singleness’“; 2Co 1:12, “in simplicit and godly sincerity,” the Revised Version (British and American) (with corrected text) “in holiness and sincerity of God”; 2Co 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 Eph 6:5; Col 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” (haplotēs). our Lord also speaks (Mat 6:22; Luk 11:34) of the “single eye” (haploús), and James (Jas 1:5) applies haplṓs, “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.

(lit. [Note: literally, literature.] ‘one-foldedness’)

(a) In Rom_16:18 the term ‘simple’ is used in the Authorized Version to translate ἄêáêïò. False teachers by smooth and fair speech beguile the hearts of the ‘simple.’ These are inexperienced Christians, unfamiliar with the duplicity of guile, ἄêáêïò in Heb_7:26 is used in the purely good sense, of ‘guileless,’ and is applied to Jesus, but here the word seems to be used in a slightly derogatory sense-so ignorant of evil as to be easily deceived by evil.

(b) In Rom_16:19 the word ‘simple,’ translating ἀêÝñáéïò (lit. [Note: literally, literature.] ‘free from foreign admixture,’ as, e.g., wine unmingled with water, unalloyed metal), has no such derogatory significance. St. Paul would have his readers innocent without being ignorant; discerning the wiles of Satan, yet without sin-craft: in wisdom many-sided-in aim and affection single-minded (cf. 1Co_14:20, ‘Be not children in mind: howbeit in malice, be ye babes’).

(c) In 1Pe_2:2 ἄäïëïò is used in the sense of ‘simple,’ ‘unadulterated’: ‘Desire the sincere milk of the word’ (Authorized Version : the word ‘sincere’ being used in its early English sense of ‘unmixed’). See R. C. Trench Synonyms of the NT8, London, 1876 p. lvi.

(d) ‘Simplicity’ is given as the Authorized Version translation of ἁðëüôçò in Rom_12:8 : ‘He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity.’ The Greek word indicates one-foldedness; in regard to giving, the term suggests that there is no two-sidedness in the act, that the impulse to help is not checked by a spirit of grudging selfishness. Thus the sense of ‘liberality’ became attached to the word, and so it is translated in the Revised Version of this passage (cf. 2Co_8:2 [Authorized Version and Revised Version ] 2Co_9:11; 2Co_9:13, Jam_1:5).

In 2Co_11:3 St. Paul fears lest the church at Corinth, like tempted Eve, ‘should be corrupted from the simplicity (both Authorized Version and Revised Version ) that is toward Christ.’ The noun (ἁðëüôçò) would be better translated here ‘singleness of heart,’ as in Authorized Version and Revised Version of Eph_6:5 and Col_3:22 (‘Obey your masters in singleness of heart,’ i.e. in contrast to the double-deal ingot eye-service). In Act_2:46 (‘They’-i.e. the members of the primitive Church-‘did take their food with gladness and singleness of heart’) the same idea is expressed by another phrase-ἀöåëüôçôé êáñäßáò-the figure suggested being that of a field clear of stony ground (ἀ + öåëëåýò). The Authorized Version translation ‘simplicity’ of 2Co_1:12 rests on an inferior reading-ἁðëüôçé for ἁãéüôçôé.

H. Bulcock.