Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Theme · theological

Chosen People

God chooses Abraham from among the nations, not for any merit but by sheer grace. He tells Israel through Moses, 'The LORD did not set his love on you because you were more numerous, but because he loved you.' The prophets wrestle with the tension between election and Israel's unfaithfulness — God is faithful even when his people are not. Paul argues in Romans 9–11 that God's purposes in election have not failed: a remnant is chosen by grace, and the Gentiles are grafted into the olive tree. Peter calls the church 'a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.'

Passages expressing this theme

  • 1Kgs 3:8 — And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.
  • 1Pet 1:2 — Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
  • 1Pet 2:9 — But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
  • 1Thess 1:4 — Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
  • 2Tim 1:9 — Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
  • Amos 3:2 — You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
  • Col 3:12 — Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
  • Deut 7:6 — For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
  • Deut 7:7 — The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:
  • Deut 10:15 — Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.
  • Deut 14:2 — For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
  • Deut 26:18 — And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;
  • Eph 1:4 — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
  • Eph 1:5 — Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
  • Eph 1:11 — In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
  • Exod 19:5 — Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
  • Exod 19:6 — And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
  • Gen 12:2 — And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
  • Gen 18:19 — For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he h
  • Isa 41:8 — But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.
  • Isa 43:10 — Ye are my witnesses, saith the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me
  • Isa 43:20 — The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.
  • Isa 44:1 — Yet now hear, O Jacob my servant; and Israel, whom I have chosen:
  • Isa 45:4 — For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
  • Matt 22:14 — For many are called, but few are chosen.