In studying the concept of election, there are two Greek word groups that describe the act of judgment or
decision by which preference is given to one of several possibilities, people or groups. They are the Greek
terms "haireomai" and "eklegomai". While both can be used to express human choice, most uses in the Bible are
in the theological sense and describe God’s elective activity. The focus of this article will be on the second
word group, "eklegomai", and how God uses it with regard to human beings.
This Greek verb means "to pick out or choose for oneself". It can refer to groups of people and individuals.
God chose the nation of Israel for a purpose and separated them from the rest of mankind. In this instance
God chooses and elects a favored and privileged nation regardless of their characteristics, virtue or works.
"The God of this people Israel chose (eklegomai) our fathers and made the people
great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.
Jesus chose the men who would be His apostles and the function they would serve, and it appears that it would
not include salvation. This is especially obvious in Jesus’ choice of Judas
whose unbelief serves to fulfill a messianic prophecy
and bear witness to Jesus’ deity. Occurring with divine foreknowledge, the election of a traitor was not a mistake,
and Jesus’ prophetic words of
occur just before Judas betrays Him in
After the departure of Judas, Jesus reveals the purpose of "eklegomai" in
The apostles, less Judas, were chosen and appointed for fruitful service.
And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose (eklegomai) twelve of them,
whom He also named as apostles: (Luke 6:13)
Jesus answered them, "Did (eklegomai) I Myself not choose (eklegomai) you, the
twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" (John 6:70)
"I do not speak of all of you I know the ones I have chosen (eklegomai); but it is that
the Scripture may be fulfilled, 'HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.'
"You did (eklegomai) not choose (eklegomai) Me but I chose (eklegomai) you,
and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you
ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (John 15:16)
"If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world,
but I chose (eklegomai) you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to
the apostles whom He had chosen (eklegomai). (Acts 1:2)
And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these
two You have chosen (eklegomai) (Acts 1:24)
God chose Peter for a purpose: to share the Gospel with the Gentiles.
(Acts 10:1 -
After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know
that in the early days God made a choice (eklegomai) among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear
the word of the gospel and believe. (Acts 15:7)
Just as the nation of Israel was chosen, Christians have been chosen for a role in eschatology. In the context
of Mark 13, election has a serious responsibility in which Jesus
foresees situations that will challenge their faith. And Jesus exhorts, But take heed…"
Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the
sake of the elect, whom He chose (eklegomai), He shortened the days.
The election of the Christian community emphasizes the end of self-centeredness. In Christ alone is one saved
and deemed righteous.
In the case of the Corinthian church, God’s chose the less desirable for the purpose of shaming
wisdom, power and carnal fame, so that no one may boast before God.
but God has chosen (eklegomai) the foolish things of the world to shame the wise,
and God has chosen (eklegomai) the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28) and the
base things of the world and the despised God has (eklegomai) chosen (eklegomai), the things
that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
(1 Cor 1:27-28)
In the case of the Ephesian church, the hymn of praise focuses on the basis, mediator and goal
of election. This is the only place in the New Testament where "eklegomai" has an emphasis on eternity. Jesus Christ
is, along with the Father and Holy Spirit, the electing God. As the incarnate Mediator between God and human beings,
He is the elected One and calls the church to a consecrated walk in the presence of God.
just as He chose (eklegomai) us in Him before the foundation of the world, that
we would be holy and blameless before Him In love (Eph 1:4)
In the case of James, God’s choice of the poor is a reference to the early church which was
comprised of largely poor people, but they were "rich" in faith. Evaluating people based on their socio-economic
status was shallow and superficial.
Listen, my beloved brethren: did (eklegomai) not God choose (eklegomai)
the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
There has been considerable discussion whether election pertains to salvation. The Greek verb "eklegomai", as
seen above, is never explicitly contrasted with the idea of God’s judgment or condemnation. Most uses seem to be
associated with the exercise of His sovereign will in the process of fulfilling His
Abrahamic Covenant. For example:
For his faith, God chose Abraham as the recipient of His unconditional covenant. This covenant
included personal promises to Abraham.
Despite Ishmael’s status as being the first born, God chose Isaac to be the line through which
the blessing of the Abrahamic Covenant would flow
While Abraham had many descendants, God chose Jacob
as the line through which the covenant would be passed. The nation of Israel arises from Jacob
and God identifies Himself as the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob
The nation of Israel is chosen as God’s own people (if they obeyed His voice and kept
His covenant [Ex 19:5]).
Moses is chosen as the man through whom the nation of Israel learns of the conditional
the moral, social and worship conditions for receiving the blessings of God.
Expanding on the Seed aspect of the Abrahamic Covenant, David is chosen as the one who receives
the Davidic Covenant,
which promises that the Messiah will be a descendant.
Jesus was chosen as the mediator of the unconditional
who fulfills the conditional Mosaic Covenant. The New Covenant is the expansion of the blessing aspect of the
Abrahamic Covenant, and Jesus chooses His disciples for service in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ as the
means of receiving God’s blessing.
1. Brown C, ed., The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, vol. 3, Grand
Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, (1979).
2. Harris RL, Archer Jr GL, and Waltke BK., Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament,
Chicago: Moody Press, (1980).
3. Mounce MD, ed., Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,
Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, (2006).
4. Brand C, Draper C and England A, eds., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Nashville:
Holman Bible Publishers, (1998).
5. Walvoord JF and Zuck, RB, eds., The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Wheaton: Victor Books,