Who Are The Elect,
The Chosen Ones?
For What are they Chosen?
By Jonathan Mitchell
Our launching site for this investigation will be Jesus' proclamation in Mark 13:
20. "And now - except [the] Lord [= Christ or Yahweh] cuts short (maims; curtails; lops off; discounts) the days - all flesh (= people; [comment: likely a reference to Jerusalem and Judea in the first century AD]) will not likely continue being kept safe or rescued. However, because of the chosen (or: selected) ones, whom He Himself picked out, He cuts short (curtails) the days.
Jesus does not explain who He meant by,
"the chosen ones, whom He Himself picked out."
This is the first time that Mark uses the term, chosen, and he uses it only in this chapter (cf vss. 22 and 27, below). Now with this adjective, he includes the verb from which the adjective comes: picked out (ek-lege). We find this word "chosen" in the parallel chapter of Mat. 24, but in both Mat. 20:16 and 22:14 Jesus states that:
"many folks continue existing being called and invited ones, yet a few people [are also] chosen ones (selected and picked out folks)."
Everyone is invited, but among the invited,
"a few people [are also] chosen ones (selected and picked out folks)"
that are to be His agents, and are given jobs to do in His reign - they have a function that will serve all the
"many folks [who] continue being called and invited."
It will be helpful if we look at other places where this term is used, as well as a cognate, the noun form...
Before surveying the NT use of this word family, let us observe the grounding concept of its use in the OT. We find it interesting to note that the adjective is used in six verses of Gen. 41: in the narrative of Pharaoh's dreams, and in their interpretation by Joseph. The first dream began with him seeing
"seven cows, fine, ideal and beautiful in appearance, and choice (select) in flesh..." (Gen. 41:2, LXX). In the parallel dream, he saw "seven ears of corn come up on one stalk: choice ones and beautiful (fine; ideal) ones" (vs. 5).
We next find the term in Ex. 14:7, where Pharaoh took
"six hundred chosen chariots."
Its only other use in Ex. is in 30:23, where it speaks of
"the flower of choice myrrh."
These examples offer us a sense of how Jesus would have used these terms. They speak of that which is of excellent quality.
But let us back up even further, to Gen. 1:28 where the humans were chosen to be administrators over the earth. Our word-family is not used there, but we observe God's action of choosing humanity for a function. Then later, in Gen. 12:1-3 we find Yahweh choosing Abram:
"Yahweh said to Abram: Go by yourself from your land... to the land that I shall show you. I shall make you into a great nation and I shall bless you; I shall make your name great, and you will indeed be a blessing.... In you all the families of the ground will be blessed" (CVOT).
Notice that God's choosing was a new beginning for Abram, but at the end of vs. 3 we see that God had a purpose in this choosing. Yahweh expanded this explanation to (now) Abraham, in Gen. 22:18,
"And all the nations of the earth will be blessed through your Seed..."
Later, Abraham's grandson, Jacob, wrestles all night with a man (an agent of God) and has his name changed to Israel. In Gen. 35, God appeared to Jacob and then tells him,
"a nation and a company of nations shall be from you, and kings shall come from you loins" (vs. 11).
His twelve sons become the twelve tribes of Israel. One of the twelve, Joseph, was sold into slavery by his eleven brother, but it turns out that to Joseph it is revealed that it was not really they who sent him to Egypt, but rather, it was God (Gen. 45:8) who sent him there before the rest of the family, in order "to preserve life" (Gen. 45:5b). All that are chosen, are chosen for a purpose: to be a blessing to, and for, others.
In the book of Exodus, we find the story of Moses, and we find that Moses was chosen by God to deliver Israel from slavery, and to give them the Law that created them as a nation. Later in Israel's story, Saul was chosen to be Israel's first king, and then David was chosen to succeed him. Later, Israel was chosen to be a Light to the surrounding nations, so that those nations would come to know the true God, and then, the prophets were chosen to bring God's Word of correction and judgment to Israel, and to prophecy about their future restoration and blessings. Fast forward to Jesus and His followers...
Now it is interesting that the rulers of Judea, in deriding Jesus, used this term "chosen" as a synonym for the term Christ, or, Messiah, in Lu. 23:35,
"if (or: since) this man is God's Anointed One (or: the Christ of God; = the Messiah from God), the Chosen One."
This gives us a key to perceive how that culture understood this word, in that time. Paul picks up this term in Rom. 8:33 and 16:13, and then we find, in Col. 3:12-13,
"Therefore, as God's chosen, set-apart and beloved ones (or: God's sacred, loved and chosen people; or: as elect... ones from God), clothe yourselves with (or: enter within) bowels (internal organs; = the tender parts; seat of deep feelings) of compassion, kindness (adaptable usefulness), humility (the minding and disposition of things of lowness or of low station), gentleness (meekness; mildness), waiting long before rushing with emotions (even-temperedness; long-suffering; putting up with people/situations; pushing anger far away), being folks continuously holding up [things or situations] pertaining to one another (or: habitually holding yourselves up, belonging to one another; constantly putting up with one another) and incessantly giving grace to or doing a favor for (dealing graciously with and among) yourselves... Just as the Lord also gave (or: gives) grace to and favor for you (deals graciously in, with and among you folks), thus also you folks [do the same]."
Peter addressed his first letter:
"to folks gathered, laid-out and chosen in accord with and down from Father God's foreknowledge (or: corresponding to a previous experiential and intimate knowledge possessed by God, who is a Father), within a setting-apart of spirit (or: in union with the process of being set apart from common condition and use by [the] Spirit; or: in the midst of a sacred differencing which is a Breath-effect) [leading] into an obedient hearing (or: [focused] to being centered in a listening and paying attention with compliance) and a sprinkling with Jesus Christ's blood (or: a sprinkling of blood, which is Jesus Christ): May grace (or: favor) and peace from the joining be multiplied into fullness (or: be brought to fullness) in and among you folks (or: to you folks; for you folks)!" (1 Pet. 1:1)
This verse, likewise colors in the picture of who the "chosen" are. Then he uses the adjective again, in 1 Pet. 2:9,
The noun, ekloge (from ek and logos) is used of Saul (later, Paul) in Acts 9:15, where the Lord tells Ananias that Saul is "a vessel of choice to Me (or: a picked-out and chosen instrument by and for Me) to lift up and carry My Name." Then Paul uses this noun with a reference to Yahweh choosing Jacob:
"the end that God's purpose and aim, which He designed and set beforehand, may continually remain (abide; dwell) down from (corresponding to and in accord with) election (a selection; a choosing-out; a choice), not forth from out of works (or: actions), but instead from out of the One repeatedly calling (or: from the continual summoning)" (Rom. 9:11)
He used the word again, now in reference to Israel, in Rom. 11:5,
"Thus then, also, within the present season (or: In this way, therefore, even in the current appropriate situation and in union with the present fertile moment) a destitute remainder (or: a forsaken minority under the effect of lack; a left-behind surviving group; a worn-smooth, plain, inferior, unsculptured, unembossed part; a remnant) has been birthed (has come to be and exists) down from a selection of grace (in accord with an election which is grace and a choosing-out for favor)."
But then, in the latter part of this same chapter, he sheds more light on those who throughout time have been "chosen" for specific purposes, following the blueprint of God's plan of the ages:
27."And this [is] the arrangement for them from beside Me (or: And this [will be] My covenant in, to and for them) when I take away their failures (deviations; sins; mistakes; misses of the target; shooting amiss of the goal)." [Isa. 59:20-21; 27:9]
28. Corresponding to (With respect to; In accord with; Down from) the Good News (the message of goodness and well-being), on the one hand, [they were] enemies (hostile ones; ones regarded as enemies) because of (or: through; with a view to) you folks; on the other hand, according to (in accord with; down from; corresponding to) the selection (the choosing out; the election) [they are] loved ones, because of (with a view to) the fathers (= ancestors),
29. for you see, the grace-effects and the calling of God (or: because the results of God's joyous favor and invitation) [are] void of regret and without change in purpose (or: unregretted; not to be regretted afterward; are not subject to recall; = are never taken back). But Paul does not end with this particular "selection (choosing out; election)," but continues his arguments about the choice of Israel, and now the inclusion of the rest of humanity to be grafted in His program (Rom. 11:17). So let us consider the next four verses, here in Rom. 11:
30. For just as you folks were once (or: at one time) incompliant to God (or: unconvinced, disobedient, unwilling to be persuaded and stubborn by God), yet now (at the present time) you folks are (or: were) mercied (made the recipients of mercy) by (or: in; with) the incompliance (disobedience; stubbornness; lack of being convinced) of these folks.
31. Thus, also, these now (at the present time) are incompliant (stubborn; disobedient; unconvinced) by (or: for; to) your mercy, to the end that they also may now be mercied (would be the recipients of mercy).
32. For you see, God encloses, shuts up and locks all mankind (everyone; the entire lot of folks) into incompliance (disobedience; stubbornness; lack of being convinced), to the end that He could (or: would; should) mercy all mankind (may make everyone, the all, recipients of mercy)!
33. O, the depth of [the] riches (wealth; resources) and wisdom and intimate, experiential knowledge and insight of God (or: from God; which are God)! How unsearchable (inscrutable) the effects of His decisions (results of the distinctive separations, judicial awards, judgments and evaluations from Him), and untrackable (untraceable) His ways (paths; roads).
The last example of the noun that we will offer is part of Paul's introduction, in 1 Thes. 1:4-5a,
"O Brothers, folks having been loved and still being accepted by God, knowing and perceiving your ELECTION (the choosing or selection and picking-out of you people; or: the speaking-out pertaining to you), how that the message of the goodness of, and from, our God was not birthed into you within word or thought only, but rather also within power and ability, even within a set-apart Breath-effect as well as in much assurance having been brought to full measure..."
We have taken the time to quote these passages to let the NT writers instruct us about whom He was speaking, in vs. 20, above, when He used the adjective, "chosen." But since this is such an important topic, in Christian theology, let us observe a few verses where the verb is used:
"You yourselves did not choose Me, but to the contrary I, Myself, selected and picked out (or: chose) you folks and placed (or: set) you, to the end that you would (or: can; may) progressively lead and bring [situations] under control (or: humbly go your way) and would (or: can; should) be constantly bearing (bringing forth) fruit..." (Jn. 15:16).
And then, in Eph. 1:4 we learn,
"He chose us out (or: selects and picks us out; elected us) within Him, and in union with Him [F, G: for or in Himself] before [the] (or: prior to a) casting down (or: a laying of the foundation; a conception) of [the] ordered system (or: human aggregate), [for] us to continuously be set-apart ones and flawless folks in His sight and presence - in union with, and centered in, Love."
But in all this, keep in mind that He choose people to function for Him, and as Him, among the rest of humanity whom He continues calling, each in their own order and class (1 Cor. 15:23) as He brings them to birth in Himself - He remains the same, on into the midst of the ages (Heb. 13:8). Everyone is chosen to return into Him
"Because, forth from out of the midst of Him, then through the midst of Him (or: through means of Him), and [finally] into the midst of Him, [is; will be] the whole (everything; [are] all things)" (Rom. 11:36).
You see, all humanity was chosen to be made new:
"I am periodically making all humanity new, and progressively, one after another, producing and creating every person anew, while constantly constructing all people fresh and new, i.e., continuously renewing everyone" (Rev. 21:5).
The "elect," or, "the chosen ones," are simply selected to do a job that needs to be done. When we finish the job, or pass from this life, that descriptive category ceases to apply to us - until we are given another job to do.
Jonathan
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