The Doctrine of Election: Who Are the Elect?

The doctrine of election is one that can be contentious within the body of Christ. Election is clearly taught in the Bible. But what does it mean? This post will look at some keywords in the debate and how they are used in both the Old and New Testaments. Then try to express just what the Bible is teaching and its implication in the life of the follower of Jesus.

Election in the Old Testament

You will likely not find the word ‘elect’ or ‘election’ in your translation of the Old Testament. Instead, the word that is most commonly used is ‘choose’ or ‘chosen.’ The Hebrew word bāhar (to choose) is used nearly 170 times in the Old Testament. It is often used for a person’s activity, as in Lot ‘choosing’ the plain country around Sodom (Gen. 13:11), or Moses choosing some men to help him lead Israel (Ex. 18:25).

But about half the time, it is used in regard to God’s choosing, either a person, a people, or a place. The following list will illustrate some examples of his choosing.

• Nehemiah 9:7 – Abram was chosen
• Psalm 105:26 – Moses and Aaron were chosen
• 1 Samuel 10:24 – Saul was chosen to be king
• 2 Samuel 6:21 – David was chosen to be king
• 1 Chronicles 28:10 – Solomon was chosen to build the temple
• Deuteronomy 12:5 – God chose Jerusalem (this is a frequently mentioned choice)
• 2 Chronicles 7:16 – The temple in Jerusalem was chosen
• Deuteronomy 18:5 – The Levites were chosen to serve God
• Deuteronomy 7:6-7 – Israel was chosen to be God’s people (there are frequent references to this as well)

Individual Election in the Old Testament

As you can see, God chose a number of people in the Old Testament. Abraham, Moses, Aaron, Saul, David, and Solomon were all chosen to perform some specific task or function. And you can find many others that God chose for specific tasks in the life of Israel, even if the word bāhar is not associated with them.

But apart from Abraham, they never seem to be chosen to be in a relationship with God. They were already a part of Israel and were chosen to perform some task within God’s holy people. They may have been chosen to lead, build, or do some other task, but individual election in the Old Testament is generally not for entering into a relationship with God. Instead, it is for a specific area of service.

Not all of the chosen ones were a part of Israel. According to Romans 9:17, the Pharaoh of the Exodus was chosen to demonstrate God’s power. And in Isaiah 44:28; 45:1, 13, Cyrus was identified as God’s chosen instrument for restoring Israel back to their land. But even in these cases, God chose people for a task, not a relationship.

Corporate Election in the Old Testament

I find two groups in the Old Testament that are chosen. One of these is the Levites. They were chosen out of Israel to serve at the tabernacle/temple, assisting the priests in their duties. But, even though this is a group selection, it is really very similar to the individual election mentioned above. They are chosen, but not to be in a relationship with God; they already were in a relationship with him. Instead, they are chosen for a task.

Elect Israel

It is with Israel that we see something different in God’s choosing. While he does indeed have something for them to do, his choosing seems to be primarily relational. In Deuteronomy 7:6, God said to Israel: “The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” They were chosen to be God’s treasured possession, a people belonging to God.

Israel, as a people, belonged to God. And in general, God’s provision, promises, rebuke, judgment, and deliverance are directed, not to individuals, but to the nation. Israel was God’s chosen people, and it was in being a part of that chosen people that individuals experienced a relationship with God.

While all of Israel generally enjoyed the blessings, and chastisement that came to Israel, not all of them were really a part of the chosen elect. In 1 Kings 18:16-40, you can find the story of Elijah’s contest with the prophets of Baal on Mt Carmel. The end of the story has Elijah fleeing for his life, taking refuge in a cave, having a pity party, and telling God that he is the only faithful person left. But in 1 Kings 19:18, God told Elijah that he still had 7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal. This faithful remnant was the true people of God, the chosen Israel. And this concept of a faithful remnant is common in the prophets and in Romans.

Election in the New Testament

The equivalent family of words in the New Testament is the verb eklego, the adjective eklektos, and the noun ekloge. These words are variously translated in the NIV as chosen, chose, choose, picked, made a choice, election, and elect. Sometimes the word is used for people choosing something or someone. But more commonly, it is God who is choosing. The following representative lists will show the usage of these words in the New Testament. Frequently it is God choosing Christ; other times, he chooses individuals for a task; and other times, the selection refers to a group, the elect.

Christ is the Chosen One

• Luke 9:35 – This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.
• Luke 23:35 – let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.
• 1 Peter 2:4 – [Jesus] rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him
• 1 Peter 2:6 – [Jesus] a chosen and precious cornerstone
  

The Apostles Chosen

• Luke 6:13 – he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them
• Acts 1:2 – through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen
• Acts 1:24 – Show us which of these two you have chosen (Replacement for Judas)
• John 6:70 – Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!
• Acts 9:15 – This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name (God to Ananias about Saul)
• Acts 15:7 – you know that some time ago God made a choice among you (Peter to proclaim to Cornelius)

The Elect

• Matthew 22:14 – For many are invited, but few are chosen.
• Matthew 24:22 – for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened
• Luke 18:7 – And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones
• John 13:18 – I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen.
• John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you
• John 15:19 – but I have chosen you out of the world
• Romans 8:33 – Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?
• Romans 9:11 – in order that God’s purpose in election might stand
• Ephesians 1:4 – For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy
• Colossians 3:12 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved
• 1 Thessalonians 1:4 – we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you
• Titus 1:1 – an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect
• 1 Peter 1:1 – To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces
• 1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation
• Revelation 17:14 – with him will be his called, chosen, and faithful followers

Individual Election in the New Testament

It is clear that, just like in the Old Testament, some individuals are chosen for specific tasks. The original twelve, Judas’ replacement, and Saul are all chosen to be apostles, to take the gospel out into the world. While this same word is not used in relation to them, we also see Ananias called to minister to Saul and Barnabas set apart to go out with Paul on his first trip.

We find the same thing happening today when God calls individuals as missionaries, pastors, teachers, or other places of responsibility within the body of Christ. This type of call, or election, is not for salvation. Instead, it is for service.

Corporate Election in the New Testament

In the Old Testament with Israel, election is primarily a corporate affair. A person is elected, not because of God’s individual selection of the person, but because of their union with Israel. Israel is elected, and so long as you are a part of Israel, you experience the benefits of that election.

But does that carry over to the New Testament as well? Does this form of corporate election come into play with the church? I do believe there is evidence in the passages listed above that a case can be made for corporate election in the New Testament being similar to that of the Old.

In Christ

When you look through the list of passages on election above, you will notice that in a number of them, it is Christ who is chosen by God. He is God’s Chosen One (Lk. 9:35). He was chosen before the creation of the world (1 Pet. 1:20). Chosen here is a different word, one that implies choosing beforehand. It is Christ that God has chosen, from before creation.

An expression that Paul is very fond of is “in Christ.” You find it in Ephesians 1:4 when he says, “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world,” with the ‘him’ being Christ. We were indeed chosen, or elected. But it was “in Christ” that we were chosen. This is very similar to saying that the Old Testament Jews were chosen “in Israel.” I am not chosen individually. I am chosen as a part of the corporate body of Christ.

In Christ References

Other places where Paul uses this expression add to this idea of our position before God being based on inclusion in Christ rather than as an individual. Below are some of the over 80 times that Paul uses this expression. Not all of them refer to our position in Christ, but most of them do.

• Romans 6:11 – In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
• Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• 1 Corinthians 1:2 – To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
• Galatians 3:26 – So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith
• Ephesians 1:13 – And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. 
• Ephesians 2:13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
• Colossians 2:9-10 – For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ, you have been brought to fullness.
• 2 Timothy 1:9 – This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,

I do not stand alone before God. Rather I stand “in Christ” before God. My relationship with God is dependent upon my inclusion in Christ. But which comes first: election; or inclusion in Christ?

Which Comes First? Election? Or Inclusion in Christ?

Am I in Christ because I have been elected? Or am I elected because I am in Christ? Or does it even matter? It is likely that most Christians in the 21st-century Western world would say that I am elected by God and, as one of the elect, find inclusion in Christ. And we say that, not so much because of a Scriptural basis, but because of cultural reasons. We are an individualist society, focused first on the individual, and secondly on the group.

But the New Testament world, as well as that of the Old, was more group-oriented. The individual found significance as a member of the group. And the group’s needs were more important than that of the individual. As you look back through the list of election/choosing passages, you will find that a significant number of the ones that refer to God’s choosing of us seem to reflect that group-first mentality.

Elected as a Body

Many passages refer to “the elect,” with the elect being the body of believers. In 1 Thessalonians 1:4, Paul addressed the church with, “We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.” He is referring to the body of believers, but the ‘you’ is singular. God had chosen them as a singular entity. And in 1 Peter 2:9, Peter calls the ones he writes to “a chosen people.” People can be translated as ‘family,’ ‘nation,’ or ‘people.’ In Peter’s terminology, we are not chosen as individuals. We are a chosen group.

If indeed Christ is the “chosen one.” And I am called to be “in Christ.” Then it would seem reasonable to think that I am chosen or elected by being included in Christ. And I believe that by and large, the Scripture bears that out as well. While some passages seem to refer to individuals being elected, not to serve, but to relationship, the bulk of the Scripture seems to point in the other way. That I am elect because I am in Christ.

Does It Matter?

Is this just a matter of semantics? Or does it really matter whether election to salvation is individual or corporate? As far as most of us are concerned, it is not really all that critical an issue. In either case, we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ. The impact on us as believers is the same whether we are elected into the body of Christ, or elected because of membership in the body. In both cases, we live our lives in the same way. At least, almost.

I say almost because there is a subtle way in which it makes a difference. If I am elected apart from the body, then it stands to reason that I can live as a believer without being connected to the church and its fellowship. But if my salvation is as a member of the body of Christ, then active membership in, and fellowship with, the body is essential.

I favor the corporate nature of election and the importance of being an active part of the body. And that includes fellowshipping with a local representation of the universal body of Christ. It is “in Christ” that I encounter God and experience the blessings of sonship. And being “in Christ” should mean a connection with others who also are “in Christ.” As believers, we are called to union together with Christ. The lone Christian is really unknown to the Bible. But it is unfortunately all too common an experience in the US.

And for Theologians?

This topic would not really be complete without mentioning that for theologians, this is a topic of serious debate. On the one hand, there are those who see that God has elected me as an individual, independently of anything I might say, do, or believe. On the other hand, there are those who see my election as being the result of responding to his call and becoming a part of the body of Christ.

While at the practical level, it seems not to make much difference to us which scenario is true, it is a critical point in a larger theological framework. A framework that describes the divine/human relationship and interaction. I favor the corporate nature of election and embrace an Arminian view of soteriology. But there are those for whom I have the utmost respect and who hold to a very different perspective. Unfortunately, all too often, the differences in these views divide believers for whom Christ gave his life. How much better when we can come together in one heart, mind, and spirit, and together represent our Lord in this dark world?

Related Posts

• Arminianism: Foreknowledge, Predestination, and Election
• Gathering the Elect – Matthew 24:30-31
• Living As An Exile – 1 Peter 1:1
• What Does it Mean to Be In Christ?