Christian Simplicity

He hath declared to thee, O man, what <FI>is<Fi> good; Yea, what is Jehovah requiring of thee, Except--to do judgment, and love kindness, And lowly to walk with thy God?

For our glorying is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and sincerity of God, not in fleshly wisdom, but in the grace of God, we did conduct ourselves in the world, and more abundantly toward you;

but let your word be, Yes, Yes, No, No, and that which is more than these is of the evil.

or he who is exhorting--`In the exhortation!' he who is sharing--`In simplicity!' he who is leading--`In diligence?' he who is doing kindness--`In cheerfulness.'

but--the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible thing of the meek and quiet spirit, which is, before God, of great price,

and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that <FI>is<Fi> in the Christ;

but seek ye first the reign of God and His righteousness, and all these shall be added to you.

A preserver of the simple <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah, I was low, and to me He giveth salvation.

as new-born babes the word's pure milk desire ye, that in it ye may grow,

`The lamp of the body is the eye, if, therefore, thine eye may be perfect, all thy body shall be enlightened,

`Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?

The opening of Thy words enlighteneth, Instructing the simple.

The law of Jehovah <FI>is<Fi> perfect, refreshing the soul, The testimonies of Jehovah <FI>are<Fi> stedfast, Making wise the simple,

wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;

whose end <FI>is<Fi> destruction, whose god <FI>is<Fi> the belly, and whose glory <FI>is<Fi> in their shame, who the things on earth are minding.

that we may no more be babes, tossed and borne about by every wind of the teaching, in the sleight of men, in craftiness, unto the artifice of leading astray,

for the wages of the sin <FI>is<Fi> death, and the gift of God <FI>is<Fi> life age-during in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And not only <FI>so<Fi> , but we also boast in the tribulations, knowing that the tribulation doth work endurance;

`No domestic is able to serve two lords, for either the one he will hate, and the other he will love; or one he will hold to, and of the other he will be heedless; ye are not able to serve God and mammon.'

`None is able to serve two lords, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one, and despise the other; ye are not able to serve God and Mammon.

For those who are according to the flesh, the things of the flesh do mind; and those according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit; — read the full passage →

Daily also continuing with one accord in the temple, breaking also at every house bread, they were partaking of food in gladness and simplicity of heart,

And Jesus said to him, `Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thine understanding--

At that time Jesus answering said, `I do confess to Thee, Father, Lord of the heavens and of the earth, that thou didst hide these things from wise and understanding ones, and didst reveal them to babes.

In my heart I have hid Thy saying, That I sin not before Thee.

Desist, and know that I <FI>am<Fi> God, I am exalted among nations, I am exalted in the earth.

Love not ye the world, nor the things in the world; if any one doth love the world, the love of the Father is not in him, — read the full passage →

and the fruit of the righteousness in peace is sown to those making peace.

My brethren, hold not, in respect of persons, the faith of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, — read the full passage →

because, if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, this one hath been like to a man viewing his natural face in a mirror,

and become ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves,

wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls; — read the full passage →

every good giving, and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, with whom is no variation, or shadow of turning;

and the rich in his becoming low, because as a flower of grass he shall pass away;

knowing that the proof of your faith doth work endurance,

And Jesus said to them, `I am the bread of the life; he who is coming unto me may not hunger, and he who is believing in me may not thirst--at any time;

for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.

for where your treasure is, there will be also your heart.

The simple giveth credence to everything, And the prudent attendeth to his step.

And to Him who is able to guard you not stumbling, and to set <FI>you<Fi> in the presence of His glory unblemished, in gladness,

as free, and not having the freedom as the cloak of the evil, but as servants of God;

Blessed <FI>is<Fi> the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to the abundance of His kindness did beget us again to a living hope, through the rising again of Jesus Christ out of the dead,

draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you; cleanse hands, ye sinners! and purify hearts, ye two-souled!

this wisdom is not descending from above, but earthly, physical, demon-like,

Many teachers become not, my brethren, having known that greater judgment we shall receive,

And let the brother who is low rejoice in his exaltation,

and let him ask in faith, nothing doubting, for he who is doubting hath been like a wave of the sea, driven by wind and tossed,

All joy count <FI>it<Fi> , my brethren, when ye may fall into temptations manifold;

for ye know that also afterwards, wishing to inherit the blessing, he was disapproved of, for a place of reformation he found not, though with tears having sought it.

The servants! obey in all things those who are masters according to the flesh, not in eye-service as men-pleasers, but in simplicity of heart, fearing God;

let no one beguile you of your prize, delighting in humble-mindedness and <FI>in<Fi> worship of the messengers, intruding into the things he hath not seen, being vainly puffed up by the mind of his flesh,

As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as <FI>are<Fi> grave, as many as <FI>are<Fi> righteous, as many as <FI>are<Fi> pure, as many as <FI>are<Fi> lovely, as many as <FI>are<Fi> of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;

The servants! obey the masters according to the flesh with fear and trembling, in the simplicity of your heart, as to the Christ;

In the freedom, then, with which Christ did make you free--stand ye, and be not held fast again by a yoke of servitude;

for God is not <FI>a God<Fi> of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

for, seeing in the wisdom of God the world through the wisdom knew not God, it did please God through the foolishness of the preaching to save those believing.

for it pleased Macedonia and Achaia well to make a certain contribution for the poor of the saints who <FI>are<Fi> in Jerusalem;

And not only <FI>so<Fi> , but also we ourselves, having the first-fruit of the Spirit, we also ourselves in ourselves do groan, adoption expecting--the redemption of our body;

and to those contentious, and disobedient, indeed, to the truth, and obeying the unrighteousness--indignation and wrath,

and said, `Verily I say to you, if ye may not be turned and become as the children, ye may not enter into the reign of the heavens;

ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father who <FI>is<Fi> in the heavens is perfect.

`Happy the meek--because they shall inherit the land.

Also--when I walk in a valley of death-shade, I fear no evil, for Thou <FI>art<Fi> with me, Thy rod and Thy staff--they comfort me.

`Have not I commanded thee? be strong and courageous; be not terrified nor affrighted, for with thee <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah thy God in every <FI>place<Fi> whither thou goest.'

A revelation of Jesus Christ, that God gave to him, to shew to his servants what things it behoveth to come to pass quickly; and he did signify <FI>it<Fi> , having sent through his messenger to his servant John,

he who is not loving did not know God, because God is love.

Ye, then, that which ye heard from the beginning, in you let it remain; if in you may remain that which from the beginning ye did hear, ye also in the Son and in the Father shall remain, — read the full passage →

As all things to us His divine power (the things pertaining unto life and piety) hath given, through the acknowledgement of him who did call us through glory and worthiness,

Having put aside, then, all evil, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envyings, and all evil speakings,

for we all make many stumbles; if any one in word doth not stumble, this one <FI>is<Fi> a perfect man, able to bridle also the whole body;

So then, my brethren beloved, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,

but it is great gain--the piety with contentment; — read the full passage →

and ye--ye did become imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

not that in respect of want I say <FI>it<Fi> , for I did learn in the things in which I am--to be content;

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil-speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,

For ye--to freedom ye were called, brethren, only not the freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through the love serve ye one another,

Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;

for I decided not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified;

for your obedience did reach to all; I rejoice, therefore, as regards you, and I wish you to be wise, indeed, as to the good, and harmless as to the evil;

and be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, for your proving what <FI>is<Fi> the will of God--the good, and acceptable, and perfect.

and of the multitude of those who did believe the heart and the soul was one, and not one was saying that anything of the things he had was his own, but all things were to them in common.

and there is not salvation in any other, for there is no other name under the heaven that hath been given among men, in which it behoveth us to be saved.'

and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

Jesus saith to him, `I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one doth come unto the Father, if not through me;

for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. — read the full passage →

In that hour was Jesus glad in the Spirit, and said, `I do confess to thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that Thou didst hide these things from wise men and understanding, and didst reveal them to babes; yes, Father, because so it became good pleasure before Thee.

`And that in the good ground: These are they, who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, do retain <FI>it<Fi> , and bear fruit in continuance.

and again I say to you, it is easier for a camel through the eye of a needle to go, than for a rich man to enter into the reign of God.'

`Not every one who is saying to me Lord, lord, shall come into the reign of the heavens; but he who is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens. — read the full passage →

`Treasure not up to yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust disfigure, and where thieves break through and steal, — read the full passage →

`Happy the poor in spirit--because theirs is the reign of the heavens.

Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk. — read the full passage →

For a Child hath been born to us, A Son hath been given to us, And the princely power is on his shoulder, And He doth call his name Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.

`Better <FI>is<Fi> a handful <FI>with<Fi> quietness, than two handfuls <FI>with<Fi> labour and vexation of spirit.'

When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.

Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.

A Song of the Ascents, by David. Jehovah, my heart hath not been haughty, Nor have mine eyes been high, Nor have I walked in great things, And in things too wonderful for me. — read the full passage →

and I have said to him, `Sir, thou hast known;' and he said to me, `These are those who are coming out of the great tribulation, and they did wash their robes, and they made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb;

all your care having cast upon Him, because He careth for you.