Understanding ἀφελότης (aphelotēs) Strong’s G858: The Simple-Hearted Sincerity that Transformed the Early Church

Pronunciation Guide: ah-fel-OT-ace

Basic Definition

Strong’s G858: ἀφελότης (aphelotēs) describes a quality of simplicity, sincerity, and generosity that comes from a heart free of pretense and duplicity. It refers to an uncomplicated genuineness that manifests in straightforward behavior, particularly in contexts of communal sharing and fellowship. This rare New Testament term captures the beautiful simplicity that characterized the early believers’ community life.

Etymology and Morphology

• Feminine noun
• Derived from the adjective ἀφελής (aphelēs), meaning “simple, plain, free from rocks”
• Ultimately from ἀπό (apo, “away from”) + φελλεύς (phelleus, “stony ground”)
• Occurs only once in the New Testament in narrative context (Acts 2:46)
• Found primarily in descriptions of character and community life
• The root metaphor is of ground cleared of stones, suggesting smoothness and lack of obstacles

ἀφελότης Morphology:

• ἀφελότης (nominative singular) – simplicity/sincerity
• ἀφελότητος (genitive singular) – of simplicity/sincerity
• ἀφελότητι (dative singular) – with/in simplicity/sincerity
• ἀφελότητα (accusative singular) – simplicity/sincerity (as direct object)

Origin & History

The term ἀφελότης has fascinating roots in classical Greek literature, where it initially described something physically smooth or plain, free from roughness or obstacles. In Aristotle’s “Rhetoric,” he uses the related adjective ἀφελής when discussing a plain, unadorned speaking style that avoids elaborate rhetorical flourishes, suggesting genuineness and accessibility rather than sophisticated artifice.

In the Hellenistic period, the word developed more ethical connotations, describing character rather than physical properties. Plutarch uses ἀφελής to describe individuals who are free from pretension and exhibit a natural simplicity of manner. This trajectory continues in the Septuagint, where related words occasionally appear in contexts praising straightforward character and unassuming behavior, though ἀφελότης itself does not appear in the Greek Old Testament. By the time Luke employs the term in Acts, it has evolved to capture both the moral quality of sincere simplicity and the social manifestation of that quality in generous, open-hearted community life.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A quality of sincere simplicity that manifests in genuine behavior and attitudes
• Singleness of heart that produces generous, uncomplicated relationships
• Freedom from duplicity, pretentiousness, and hidden agendas
• A “what you see is what you get” authenticity in personal and communal life
• The natural expression of hearts transformed by the Gospel, resulting in joyful generosity

ἀφελότης Translation Options:

• Simplicity – Emphasizes the uncomplicated nature of the heart attitude, though in English this might suggest naivety rather than chosen integrity
• Sincerity – Captures the genuineness aspect but might miss the connotation of generosity
• Single-heartedness – Reflects the undivided nature of the attitude but is not a common English expression
• Generous simplicity – A compound translation that captures both the heart attitude and its social expression
• Sincere generosity – Emphasizes how the internal quality manifests in community relations

Biblical Usage

The term ἀφελότης appears only once in the entire New Testament, making it a hapax legomenon (a word used only once). This singular appearance is significant, as it occurs in Luke’s description of the Jerusalem believers’ community in the days immediately following Pentecost. Luke employs this rare term precisely to capture the distinctive quality that characterized the believers’ extraordinary fellowship—a quality that was both the cause and effect of their radical communal sharing.

The early church’s practice of breaking bread together “with gladness and simplicity of heart” (Acts 2:46) represents a pivotal example of how the indwelling Holy Spirit transforms not just individual believers but entire communities. Luke specifically chooses ἀφελότης to describe this transformation, suggesting that the genuine simplicity of heart was a defining mark of Spirit-filled community. This quality stood in stark contrast to the often complex, status-conscious social interactions typical in both Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of the time.

• “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with gladness and simplicity [ἀφελότητι] of heart.” Acts 2:46

Cultural Insights

The concept of ἀφελότης would have resonated powerfully with both Jewish and Greek audiences of Luke’s time, though in different ways. In Jewish thought, the idea of “singleness of heart” (לֵבָב שָׁלֵם, levav shalem) was already a profound spiritual ideal, expressed in passages like Deuteronomy 6:5 and 1 Chronicles 28:9. This concept referred to an undivided devotion to יהוה (Yahweh) that naturally manifested in righteous living. For Jewish readers, Luke’s use of ἀφελότης would have signaled that the early believers were fulfilling this ancient spiritual ideal.

For Greek readers, however, the term carried different connotations. In Hellenistic culture, especially among the educated elite, simplicity was often viewed with suspicion or even contempt. Sophistication, complexity, and rhetorical skill were more highly valued than plainness or simplicity. By highlighting ἀφελότης as a positive quality characterizing the Christian community, Luke was subtly challenging prevailing Greco-Roman values. He presents the “simple” fellowship of believers as something extraordinary and attractive—drawing thousands to join their community—thus inverting the cultural hierarchy that privileged sophistication over simplicity.

Theological Significance

The appearance of ἀφελότης in Acts 2:46 carries profound theological implications for understanding the nature of authentic Christian community. This quality of sincere simplicity represents not merely a human virtue but a divine gift—a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s transforming work. The fact that it appears in the context of the Spirit’s outpouring at Pentecost suggests that ἀφελότης is a characteristic of Spirit-filled fellowship.

This theological connection reveals an important truth: when hearts are genuinely transformed by the Messiah, they naturally express that transformation through uncomplicated generosity and authentic community. The ἀφελότης of the early church stands as a powerful witness to the reality that God’s Kingdom operates by different principles than worldly systems built on status, complexity, and self-interest. In the Messiah’s community, barriers between people are removed (like stones cleared from a field), creating space for genuine relationships characterized by openness and sincerity.

Moreover, the singularity of this word’s appearance in the New Testament highlights its connection to the unique, unrepeatable moment of the church’s birth. While we cannot perfectly reproduce the historical circumstances of Acts 2, the quality of ἀφελότης remains a timeless marker of authentic Christian community—a standard against which all expressions of fellowship may be measured.

Personal Application

In our modern world dominated by carefully curated social media personas, strategic networking, and complex social hierarchies, ἀφελότης challenges us to embrace a counter-cultural simplicity in our relationships with God and others. This is not about naive simplicity or anti-intellectualism, but rather about cultivating hearts free from duplicity, hidden agendas, and self-protective complexity.

What would it look like for us to approach our fellowship with “simplicity of heart” today? Perhaps it means releasing our grip on reputation management and allowing ourselves to be truly known. Perhaps it means sharing our resources more generously, without the complex calculations of what we might gain in return. Or perhaps it means approaching worship with childlike directness rather than sophisticated performance. The early believers’ ἀφελότης invites us to examine where we have introduced unnecessary complexity into our spiritual lives and community relationships, and to return to the transformative simplicity that characterized the church at its birth.

Related Words

• ἁπλότης (haplotēs, hap-LOT-ace) – singleness, simplicity, particularly in giving; focuses more on generosity and liberality that comes from a simple, undivided heart. See G572
• ἀκακία (akakia, ah-kah-KEE-ah) – innocence, guilelessness; emphasizes the absence of evil or harmful intent rather than the presence of simplicity. See G172
• εἰλικρίνεια (eilikrineia, ay-lee-kree-NIE-ah) – sincerity, purity; describes moral purity and transparent honesty tested in the light. See G1505
• ἀδολότης (adolotēs, ah-doh-LOT-ace) – freedom from guile or deceit; focuses specifically on absence of deception rather than general simplicity. Not found in the New Testament but appears in Greek literature
• καθαρότης (katharotēs, kath-ah-ROT-ace) – cleanness, purity; relates to ritual and moral purity rather than simplicity of heart or attitude. See G2514

Did you Know?

• The root metaphor behind ἀφελότης is agricultural—it originally described a field cleared of stones and obstacles, making it smooth and easy to cultivate. This image beautifully illustrates how the Holy Spirit removes barriers between believers, creating the perfect conditions for authentic community to flourish. Just as a stone-free field yields better crops, a heart characterized by ἀφελότης yields abundant spiritual fruit.
• In modern Greek, derivatives of ἀφελής have evolved to sometimes carry negative connotations of naivety or over-simplicity. However, in the New Testament context, ἀφελότης is entirely positive—describing not a simplistic approach to life but a profoundly uncomplicated authenticity that cuts through social pretense and creates space for genuine relationships.
• The Jewish ethical tradition highly valued the concept of “tam” (תָּם) or “tamim” (תָּמִים), terms often translated as “blameless” or “perfect” but carrying connotations of wholeness, integrity, and simplicity. Notable examples include Noah (Genesis 6:9) and Job (Job 1:1), both described as “tamim.” This ethical ideal forms an important background for understanding the ἀφελότης Luke describes in the early church—suggesting continuity between the highest Jewish ethical ideals and the Spirit-empowered community of the Messiah.

Remember This

ἀφελότης represents that beautiful, transparent simplicity of heart that emerges when believers are truly transformed by the Messiah—a quality that sweeps away pretense, removes barriers between people, and creates the perfect soil for authentic community and radical generosity to flourish.