Understanding Election

My Goal

My goal is to look at each usage of the word “election” in the Old and New Testament. My hope is to be able to define the term. These is so much noise, confusion, bias, anger, and ignorance surrounding this word. Therefore I want to cut through all the noise and see what the Bible says about this word.

Old Testament

Usage of The Word Elect (בָּחִיר)

Graph showing the four usages in the Old Testament

Hebrew Word

1st Old Testament Text: Isaiah 42:1

Isaiah 42:1 NKJV

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.

The context of this verse is a prophecies focusing on the Messiah. We know this is Jesus Christ.

So this first is saying that Jesus Christ is the chosen one of God. It’s goes on to list the attributes and characteristics of the Messiah

Result = This Election is Personal and refers to Jesus the Messiah

Isaiah 45:4 NKJV

4 For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me.

The context of this passage is that God will use King Cyrus to free His Elect people (Israel) and to punish those who oppress them. This verse is very clear and easy to understand.

Result = This Election is corporate and the elect are the Nation of Israel

Cyrus

Isaiah 65:9 NKJV

9 I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, And from Judah an heir of My mountains; My elect shall inherit it, And My servants shall dwell there.

The context of this passage is the future judgment that will come on Israel for neglecting their God and being rebellious. However, God would spare a group of Israelites who would take care of the land and animals. This is addressing a group of Israelites.

Result = This Election is corporate and the elect are a portion of the Nation of Israel

Isaiah 65:22 NKJV

22 They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

This is a Kingdom passage which talks about the future 1,000 Kingdom. The context makes it clear that the elect are Israelites in the Kingdom.

Result = This Election is corporate and the elect are a portion of the Nation of Israel

New Testament

Graph showing the 23 usages in the New Testament

The word ἐκλεκτός (16 Uses)

Greek Word

Matthew 24:22 NKJV

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24:24 NKJV

24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:31 NKJV

31 And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mark 13:20 NKJV

20 And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days.

Mark 13:22 NKJV

22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

Mark 13:27 NKJV

27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.

Luke 18:7 NKJV

7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?

Romans 8:33 NKJV

33 Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.

Colossians 3:12 NKJV

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

1 Timothy 5:21 NKJV

21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

2 Timothy 2:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1 NKJV

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

1 Peter 1:2 NKJV

2 elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.

1 Peter 2:6 NKJV

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

2 John 1 NKJV

1 The Elder, To the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all those who have known the truth,

2 John 13 NKJV

13 The children of your elect sister greet you. Amen.