Biblical Lexicon

ἁπλότης G0572

N-AFS | 8× in 2 senses

Singleness of heart manifesting as either generous liberality or sincere simplicity of devotion.

A noun rooted in the idea of 'singleness' — a heart undivided, without folds or hidden layers. In the New Testament it branches into two closely related but distinguishable senses: generous giving and sincere devotion. The Macedonians' deep poverty overflowed in 'rich generosity' (2 Cor 8:2), while slaves are told to obey with 'sincerity of heart' (Eph 6:5; Col 3:22). Both senses flow from the same spring — a heart that is ἁπλοῦς (single, simple) either gives without calculation or devotes itself without duplicity. German 'Einfalt' (literally 'one-fold') preserves this etymological unity beautifully across both uses.

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Senses

1. generosity / liberality — Generosity, liberality — open-hearted giving that flows from singleness of purpose, without ulterior motive or self-serving calculation. The Macedonians' affliction produced 'a wealth of generosity' (2 Cor 8:2), and God enriches believers 'for all generosity' (2 Cor 9:11). Paul commends giving done ἐν ἁπλότητι (Rom 12:8) — with no hidden agenda. Spanish splits between 'generosidad' (2 Cor 8:2) and 'sencillez' (Rom 12:8), reflecting how this sense shades from lavish giving to pure-hearted giving. 4×

MORAL_QUALITY › Moral and Ethical Qualities › Holiness and Sincerity

AR["بَسَاطَةٍ", "سَخاءٍ", "سَخاءِ", "سَخائِهِمْ"]·ben["উদারতা", "উদারতায়", "উদারতার", "সরলতায়;"]·DE["Einfalt"]·EN["generosity", "of-generosity"]·FR["simplicité"]·heb["נְדִיבוּת", "נְדִיבוּתָם", "תֹּם"]·HI["उदारता", "उदारता-की", "सरलता"]·ID["kemurahan-hati", "ketulusan"]·IT["semplicita"]·jav["kaikhlas;", "kaiklasan", "kaiklasing"]·KO["너그러움에", "너그러움의", "성실에"]·PT["generosidade", "simplicidade;"]·RU["-усердии", "щедрости"]·ES["generosidad", "sencillez"]·SW["ukarimu", "ukarimu,", "ukarimu;"]·TR["cömertlikte", "cömertliğe", "cömertliğine", "o-"]·urd["سخاوت"]

Rom 12:8, 2 Cor 8:2, 2 Cor 9:11, 2 Cor 9:13

2. sincerity / simplicity — Sincerity, simplicity of devotion — undivided loyalty and transparency of purpose, without guile or double-mindedness. Paul fears the Corinthians may be led astray from their 'sincerity toward Christ' (2 Cor 11:3), and servants are to obey 'in sincerity of heart' (Eph 6:5; Col 3:22). In 2 Cor 1:12, Paul defends his conduct as marked by 'holiness and sincerity from God.' The contrast with the serpent's cunning in 2 Cor 11:3 sharpens this sense — ἁπλότης is the opposite of craftiness and hidden agendas. 4×

MORAL_QUALITY › Moral and Ethical Qualities › Holiness and Sincerity

AR["البَساطَةِ", "بَساطَةِ", "قَداسَةٍ"]·ben["পবিত্রতায়", "সরলতা", "সরলতা-তে", "সরলতায়"]·DE["Einfalt"]·EN["holiness", "simplicity", "sincerity"]·FR["simplicité"]·heb["פְּשִׁטוּת", "קְדֻשָּׁה", "תְּמִימוּת", "תֹּם-לֵבָב"]·HI["पवित्रता", "सरलत", "सरलता"]·ID["kekudusan", "kesederhanaan", "ketulusan"]·IT["aplotēti", "semplicita"]·jav["kasederhanaan", "kasucèn", "kesederhanaan", "tulus"]·KO["거룩함", "단순함과", "성실함-안에서", "진실함-으로"]·PT["santidade", "simplicidade", "sinceridade", "singeleza"]·RU["простоте", "простоты", "святости"]·ES["santidad", "sencillez"]·SW["unyofu", "unyofu,", "utakatifu"]·TR["-de-", "saflıktan", "samimiyetinde", "ve-"]·urd["سادگی", "صاف-دلی", "پاکیزگی"]

2 Cor 1:12, 2 Cor 11:3, Eph 6:5, Col 3:22

BDB / Lexicon Reference

ἁπλότης, ητος, ἡ, singleness, τῆς φωνῆςRefs 4th c.BC+ __II simplicity, πόλεωςRefs 5th c.BC+ __II.2 of persons, simplicity, frankness, sincerity, NT+5th c.BC+ __II.3 open-heartedness: hence, liberality, Refs