Lexical Summary
eklektos: Chosen, elect
Original Word:ἐκλεκτός
Part of Speech:Adjective
Transliteration:eklektos
Pronunciation:ek-lek-TOS
Phonetic Spelling:(ek-lek-tos')
KJV: chosen, elect
NASB:chosen, elect, choice, choice man, chosen one
Word Origin:[fromG1586 (ἐκλέγομαι - chosen)]
1. select
2. (by implication) favorite
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
chosen, elect.
Fromeklegomai; select; by implication, favorite -- chosen, elect.
see GREEKeklegomai
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 1588eklektós (an adjective, derived from1586/eklégomai, "to select, choose," also used as a substantive/noun) – properly, selected (chosen from, out of), especially as a deeply personal choice – literally "chosen, out of a personal preference (intention)."See 1586 (eklegomai).
Typically,1588/eklektós ("select, chosen") describes people who choose to follow the Lord, i.e. becomeGod's choice by freely receivingfaith (4102/pístis) from Him. Accordingly, these two terms are directly connected (see Tit 1:1; Lk 18:7,8).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom
eklegóDefinitionselect, by impl. favorite
NASB Translationchoice (2), choice man (1), chosen (1), chosen (9), chosen one (1), elect (8).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1588: ἐκλεκτόςἐκλεκτός,
ἐκλεκτή,
ἐκλεκτόν (
ἐκλέγω),
picked out, chosen; rare in Greek writ:, as
Thucydides 6, 100;
Plato, legg. 11, p. 938 b.; 12, 948 a., etc.; the
Sept. for
בָּחוּר and
בָּחִיר; in the N. T.
1.chosen by God, and a.to obtain salvation through Christ (seeἐκλέγω); hence, Christians are calledοἱἐκλεκτοίτοῦΘεοῦ,the chosen or elect of God (cf.Winer's Grammar, 35 (34); 234 (219)), (יְהוָהבְּחִירֵי, said of pious IsraelitesIsaiah 65:9, 15, 23;Psalm 104:43 (), cf. Wis. 4:15):Luke 18:7;Romans 8:33;Colossians 3:12;Titus 1:1; without the genitiveΘεοῦ,Matthew 24:22, 24;Mark 13:20, 22;1 Peter 1:1; with the addition ofτοῦΧριστοῦ, as the genitive of possessor,Matthew 24:31;Mark 13:27 (TTr omit the genitive);κλητοίκαίἐκλεκτοίκαίπιστοί,Revelation 17:14;γένοςἐκλεκτόν,1 Peter 2:9 (fromIsaiah 43:20, cf. Additions to Esther 8:40 [Esther 8:368:12t] (Esth. 6:17, p. 64, Fritzsche edition));ἐκλεκτοί, those who have become true partakers of the Christian salvation are contrasted withκλητοί, those who have been invited but who have not shown themselves fitted to obtain it (others regard the 'called' and the 'chosen' here as alike partakers of salvation, but the latter as the 'choice ones' (see 2 below), distinguished above the former; cf. James Morison or Meyer at the passage),Matthew 20:16 (hereTWH omit;Tr brackets the clause);; finally, those are calledἐκλεκτοί who are destined for salvation but have not yet been brought to it,2 Timothy 2:10 (but cf. Huther or Ellicott at the passage).b. The Messiah is called preeminentlyὁἐκλεκτόςτοῦΘεοῦ, as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable:Luke 23:35, cf.Luke 9:35L marginal readingTTrWH; cf. Dillmann, Das Buch Henoch (übers.u.erkhärt;allgem.Einl.), p. 23:
c. Angels are calledἐκλεκτοί, as those whom God has chosen out from other created beings to be peculiarly associated with him, and his highest ministers in governing the universe:1 Timothy 5:21; seeἅγιος, 1 b.;μαρτύρομαιδέἐγώμένὑμῶντάἅγιακαίτούςἱερούςἀγγέλουςτοῦΘεοῦ,Josephus,b. j. 2, 16, 4 under the end; (yet others explain by2 Peter 2:4;Jude 1:6; cf. Ellicott on 1 Timothy, the passage cited).
2. universally,choice, select, i. e. the best of its kind or class,excellent, preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians,2 John 1:1, 13; withἐνκυρίῳ added, eminent as a Christian (seeἐν, I. 6 b.),Romans 16:13; of things:λίθος,1 Peter 2:4 (6) (Isaiah 28:16; 2 Esdr. 5:8; Enoch, chapter 8 Greek text, Dillmann edition, p. 82f).
Topical Lexicon
Scope of the Term in the New TestamentThe word rendered “chosen” or “elect” appears twenty-three times, spanning the Gospels, Acts, the Pauline and Petrine Epistles, and Revelation. Its distribution shows three primary horizons: first, Jesus Christ Himself as the Father’s uniquely chosen Servant; second, the corporate people of God gathered in Christ; and third, select angelic beings who stand in God’s presence (1 Timothy 5:21).
Divine Election and Covenant Continuity
Election is never presented as an abstract notion but as the outworking of God’s covenant purposes. What began with Israel as “a people for His own possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6) is carried forward in the church, described in1 Peter 2:9 as “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession”. The term therefore bridges Old and New Covenants, underscoring the single redemptive storyline.
Christ, the Chosen Cornerstone
Four occurrences highlight Jesus Himself:Luke 23:35,1 Peter 2:4,1 Peter 2:6 and1 Peter 2:9. He is the “cornerstone, chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:6). All subsequent references to believers as “chosen” derive their meaning from union with this Cornerstone. Election is Christ-centered before it is church-centered.
The Elect Community in the Present Age
1 Peter addresses believers dispersed in five Roman provinces as “chosen” (1 Peter 1:1), reminding them that persecution does not nullify divine favor.Colossians 3:12 grounds ethical exhortation in identity: “Therefore, as the chosen of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion…”.Titus 1:1 situates apostolic ministry “for the faith of God’s elect,” indicating that teaching and pastoral oversight serve to nurture this community.
Pastoral Comfort and Assurance
Romans 8:33 asks, “Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies”. The term functions apologetically against condemnation and pastorally against despair, assuring believers that their standing rests on divine initiative, not human merit.
Intercession and Perseverance
Luke 18:7 speaks of God bringing justice “for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night.” Persistent prayer is encouraged by the certainty of God’s attentiveness to His elect. Likewise,2 Timothy 2:10 shows Paul enduring hardship “for the sake of the elect,” linking missionary perseverance to the certainty that some will believe.
Eschatological Protection and Vindication
Jesus employs the term in His Olivet discourse: “For the sake of the elect those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24:22) and “He will send out His angels… and they will gather His elect” (Matthew 24:31).Revelation 17:14 promises ultimate victory: “Those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.” Election guarantees both preservation amid tribulation and final triumph with the Lamb.
Angelic Election
1 Timothy 5:21 speaks of “the chosen angels,” reminding the church that divine selection extends to the heavenly host. Their presence in Paul’s charge lends solemnity to ecclesiastical discipline.
Historical Reflection
Early church fathers invoked the language of election to bolster holiness and unity; Augustine used it to articulate grace; the Reformers applied it to soteriology; evangelical missions have seen in it a spur to evangelize, confident that God has a people yet to be gathered.
Ministry Application
• Identity: Ground discipleship in the believer’s status as chosen in Christ.
• Humility: Election excludes boasting; grace, not pedigree, explains inclusion (Romans 11:5).
• Holiness: Chosen people are called to moral distinctiveness (Colossians 3:12-14).
• Perseverance: Assurance fuels endurance in suffering and service (2 Timothy 2:10).
• Worship: Praise centers on the mercy of the One who “called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Summary
The twenty-three New Testament occurrences of Strong’s Greek 1588 present election as God’s sovereign, gracious choice embodied in Christ, extended to His people, and consummated in eschatological glory. Far from speculative, the doctrine energizes prayer, holiness, mission, and hope.
Forms and Transliterations
εκλεκτά εκλεκταί εκλεκτάς εκλεκτη εκλεκτή ἐκλεκτῇ εκλεκτήν εκλεκτης εκλεκτής ἐκλεκτῆς εκλεκτοι εκλεκτοί ἐκλεκτοί ἐκλεκτοὶ εκλεκτοις εκλεκτοίς ἐκλεκτοῖς εκλεκτον εκλεκτόν ἐκλεκτόν ἐκλεκτὸν εκλεκτος εκλεκτός ἐκλεκτός εκλεκτου εκλεκτού εκλεκτους εκλεκτούς ἐκλεκτούς ἐκλεκτοὺς εκλεκτων εκλεκτών ἐκλεκτῶν εκλευκανθώσι εκλεύκον εκλιμίαν eklekte eklektē eklektêi eklektē̂i eklektes eklektês eklektēs eklektē̂s eklektoi eklektoí eklektoì eklektois eklektoîs eklekton eklektón eklektòn eklektôn eklektōn eklektō̂n eklektos eklektós eklektous eklektoús eklektoùsLinks
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