Bible Encyclopedia: Elect

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ELECT

e-lekt':

That is, "chosen," "selected."

In the Old Testament the word represents derivatives of bachar, elegit;

In the New Testament eklektos. It means properly an object or objects of selection.

This primary meaning sometimes passes into that of "eminent," "valuable," "choice"; often thus as a fact, in places where the King James Version uses "chosen" (or "elect") to translate the original (eg. Isaiah 42:1 1 Peter 2:6). In the King James Version "elect" (or "chosen") is used of Israel as the race selected for special favor and to be the special vehicle of Divine purposes (so 4 times in Apocrypha, Tobit and Ecclus); of the great Servant of Yahweh (compare Luke 23:35; the "Christ of God, his chosen"); compare eminent saints as Jacob, Moses, Rufus (Romans 16:13); "the lady," and her "sister" of 2 Jn; of the holy angels (1 Timothy 5:21); with a possible suggestion of the lapse of other angels. Otherwise, and prevalently in the New Testament, it denotes a human community, also described as believers, saints, the Israel of God; regarded as in some sense selected by Him from among men, objects of His special favor, and correspondingly called to special holiness and service.

See further under ELECTION. In the English versions "elect" is not used as a verb: "to choose" is preferred; eg. Mark 13:20 Ephesians 1:4.

Handley Dunelm

ELECT LADY

e-lekt' la'-di (eklekte kuria; 2 John 1:1):

In accordance with strict grammatical usage these words of address may be translated in three ways: "to an elect lady" (which as an address is too indefinite); or, both words being taken as proper names, "to Eklekte Kuria" (an improbable combination of two very rare names); or "to Eklekte, lady" = anglice, "to the lady (or `Madam') Eklekte."

The other translations which have been given-"to the elect lady" or "to the elect Kuria"-are open to objection on account of the omission of the article; but this violation of rule is perhaps not without parallel (compare 1 Peter 1:1).

The translation adopted will partly depend upon whether we regard the epistle as addressed to an individual or to a community. Dr. Rendel Harris believes this question to be settled by the discovery in the papyri of numerous instances which prove that kurios and kuria were used by ancient letter-writers as terms of familiar endearment, applicable to brother, sister, son, wife, or intimate friend of either sex (Expositor, March, 1901; see also Findlay, Fellowship in the Life Eternal, chapter iii). In the light of this suggestion we should naturally translate, "to my (dear) lady Eklekte."

Grammatically, this is strongly supported by 1 Timothy 1:2 and 2 Timothy 1:2 (Timotheo gnesio. agapeto. tekno = "to Tim othy my true. beloved. child"); and the fact that the name Eklekte has not yet been discovered, though Eklektos has, offers no grave objection. This is the translation favored by Clement of Alexandria, who says of the epistle: scripta vero est ad quandam Babyloniam nomine Electam, significat autem electionem ecclesiae sanctae ("It is written to a certain Babylonian, Electa by name; but it signifies the further election of the holy church"). It seems doubtful whether he means by the last clause that Electa is simply a personification of the church, or a real person whose name was derived from the Christian idea of election. Either way the rendering, "to the lady Electa," is suitable, and upon the whole it seems the best. Eklekte is not an adjective but a noun. If a person is intended, it is "the lady Electa"; if a church, it is designated, not "the elect Lady," but "the lady Elect." The mention of "thy elect sister" in 2 John 1:13 does not hinder either supposition.

See further CYRIA; JOHN, THE EPISTLES OF. Robert Law

Greek

1588. eklektos -- select, by impl. favorite
... favorite. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: eklektos Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-lek-tos') Short Definition: chosen, elect, choice, select Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1588.htm - 8k

4899. suneklektos -- chosen together with
... together with. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: suneklektos Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-ek-lek-tos') Short Definition: fellow-elect Definition: fellow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4899.htm - 7k

5500. cheirotoneo -- to vote by stretching out the hand, to ...
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: cheirotoneo Phonetic Spelling: (khi-rot-on-
eh'-o) Short Definition: I choose by vote, appoint Definition: I elect by show ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5500.htm - 7k

4400. procheirizo -- to put into the hand, to take into one's hand ...
... determine. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: procheirizo Phonetic Spelling:
(prokh-i-rid'-zom-ahee) Short Definition: I appoint, choose, elect Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4400.htm - 7k

1586. eklego -- to select
... to select. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eklego Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-leg'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I choose, elect Definition: I pick out for myself ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1586.htm - 8k

1342. dikaios -- correct, righteous, by impl. innocent
... Spelling: (dik'-ah-yos) Short Definition: just, righteous, impartial Definition:
just; especially, just in the eyes of God; righteous; the elect (a Jewish idea ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1342.htm - 8k

2474. Israel -- Israel, the name of the Jewish people and their ...
... 2474 (transliterated from the OT term 3478 , "Israel") -- Israel; the elect-nation
of God in the OT "consummated by the inclusion of Gentile believers in the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2474.htm - 7k

4401. procheirotoneo -- to appoint beforehand
... choose before. From pro and cheirotoneo; to elect in advance -- choose before. see
GREEK pro. see GREEK cheirotoneo. (prokecheirotonemenois) -- 1 Occurrence. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4401.htm - 7k

2475. Israelites -- an Israelite
... Israel, a Jew. Cognate: 2475 (from 2474 , "Israel") -- an ; a descendant
of the elect-nation of Israel. 2475 ("Israelite") has a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2475.htm - 6k

Strong's Hebrew

972. bachir -- chosen
... choose, chosen one, elect. From bachar; select -- choose, chosen one, elect. see
HEBREW bachar. 971, 972. bachir. 973 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/972.htm - 6k

Library

Of the Prerogatives which the Elect Shall Enjoy in Heaven.
... THE PRACTICE OF PIETY. 3. Of the Prerogatives which the Elect shall enjoy
in Heaven. By reason of this communion with God, the elect ...
/.../bayly/the practice of piety/3 of the prerogatives which.htm

Of this Preservation of the Elect to Salvation and of their ...
... Fifth Head of Doctrine Article 9 Of this preservation of the elect to
salvation and of their perseverance in the faith� Of this ...
/.../various/the canons of dordt/article 9 of this preservation.htm

The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of Many Kinds, but ...
... The Sins of the Elect and of the Penitent are of Many Kinds, But All Will Be Rewarded
According to the Measure of Their Repentance and Good Works. Chap. I. ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude eighth the sins of.htm

The Elect in Due Time, Though in Various Degrees and in Different ...
... First Head of Doctrine. Divine Election and Reprobation Article 12 The elect in
due time, though in various degrees and in different measures� ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/various/the canons of dordt/article 12 the elect in.htm

Letter iii (AD 1131) to Bruno, Archbishop Elect of Cologne
... LETTER III (AD 1131) To Bruno, Archbishop Elect of Cologne. To Bruno, [8]
Archbishop Elect of Cologne Bernard having been consulted ...
/.../some letters of saint bernard abbot of clairvaux/letter iii a d 1131 to.htm

Even the Sins of the Elect are Turned by God to their Advantage.
... A Treatise on rebuke and grace, Chapter 24."Even the Sins of the Elect
are Turned by God to Their Advantage. To such as love Him ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 24 even the sins of.htm

None of the Elect and Predestinated Can Perish.
... A Treatise on rebuke and grace, Chapter 14."None of the Elect and
Predestinated Can Perish. Of such says the apostle, "We know ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 14 none of the elect.htm

I am not "One of the Elect. "
... I Am Not "One of the Elect.". ... I don't know as I am one of the elect." How often I
am met with this excuse"how often do I hear it in the inquiry room! ...
/.../moody/moodys anecdotes and illustrations/i am not one of.htm

Massillon -- the Small Number of the Elect
... MASSILLON " THE SMALL NUMBER OF THE ELECT. THE SMALL NUMBER OF THE ELECT BIOGRAPHICAL
NOTE. ... MASSILLON. 1662-1742. THE SMALL NUMBER OF THE ELECT. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/massillon the small number.htm

The Bishop Elect and Consecrate
... CHAPTER IV THE BISHOP ELECT AND CONSECRATE. Hugh knew well enough what the
Chartreuse Chapter would say if the English meant to have ...
/.../marson/hugh bishop of lincoln/chapter iv the bishop elect.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Elect lady

To whom the Second Epistle of John is addressed (2 John 1:1). Some think that the word rendered "lady" is a proper name, and thus that the expression should be "elect Kyria."

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (a.) Chosen; taken by preference from among two or more.

2. (a.) Chosen as the object of mercy or divine favor; set apart to eternal life.

3. (a.) Chosen to an office, but not yet actually inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect.

4. (n.) One chosen or set apart.

5. (n.) Those who are chosen for salvation.

6. (v. t.) To pick out; to select; to choose.

7. (v. t.) To select or take for an office; to select by vote; as, to elect a representative, a president, or a governor.

8. (v. t.) To designate, choose, or select, as an object of mercy or favor.

Topical Bible Verses

Romans 8:29
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Topicalbible.org

1 Peter 1:20
Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 1:4-5
According as he has chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Topicalbible.org

Ephesians 1:11
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark on their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 17:8
The beast that you saw was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Topicalbible.org

Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Topicalbible.org

2 Timothy 1:9
Who has 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,
Topicalbible.org

Thesaurus

Elect (32 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Elect lady. ... 3. (a.) Chosen to an office, but not yet actually
inducted into it; as, bishop elect; governor or mayor elect. ...
/e/elect.htm - 21k

Elect's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Elect's (3 Occurrences). Matthew 24:22 And except
those days should be shortened, there should no flesh ...
/e/elect's.htm - 7k

Lady (37 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Elect lady. To whom the Second ... March 25. See Annunciation.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ELECT LADY. e-lekt ...
/l/lady.htm - 22k

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... with me"). Luke 18:7 has been variously rendered; the King James Version
has "And shall not God avenge his own elect.... though he ...
/l/longsuffering.htm - 16k

Choose (116 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To make choice of; to select; to take by way of preference from two or more
objects offered; to elect; as, to choose the least of two evils. ...
/c/choose.htm - 54k

Deceive (48 Occurrences)
... shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. ...
/d/deceive.htm - 22k

Shew (226 Occurrences)
... shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. ...
/s/shew.htm - 39k

John (154 Occurrences)
... Is addressed to "the elect lady," and closes with the words, "The children of thy
elect sister greet thee;" but some would read instead of "lady" the proper ...
/j/john.htm - 101k

Election (6 Occurrences)
... a community, and thus has close affinity with the Old Testament teachings upon the
privileged position of Israel as the chosen, selected race (see under ELECT...
/e/election.htm - 26k

Except (236 Occurrences)
... (YLT NAS NIV). Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should
no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. ...
/e/except.htm - 35k

Bible Concordance

Elect (32 Occurrences)

Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 13:20 And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 13:27 And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Acts 9:15 And the Lord said to him, Go, for this man is an elect vessel to me, to bear my name before both nations and kings and the sons of Israel:
(DBY)

Romans 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Romans 11:7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
(Root in KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

1 Timothy 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
(KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV NIV)

1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect who are sojourners of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
(ASV NIV)

1 Peter 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.
(KJV DBY WBS)

1 Peter 2:4 unto whom coming, a living stone, rejected indeed of men, but with God elect, precious,
(ASV)

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for 'God's' own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
(ASV)

1 Peter 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
(Root in KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 John 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;
(KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

2 John 1:13 The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen.
(KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS RSV)

Numbers 1:16 These are they that were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
(See JPS)

Numbers 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown;
(See JPS)

Numbers 26:9 And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Jehovah,
(See JPS)

Psalms 89:3 I have made an agreement with the man of my selection, I have made an oath to David my servant;
(Root in BBE DBY)

Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Isaiah 43:20 The beasts of the field shall honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen,
(See JPS)

Isaiah 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.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Isaiah 65:9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Isaiah 65:15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto mine elect; for the Lord Jehovah will slay thee, and will call his servants by another name:
(DBY JPS)

Isaiah 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
(KJV JPS DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Candidate: Electioneering By, Instance of, Absalom

Candidate: Refuses to Make Promises

Elect

Elect Lady

Related Terms

Elect's (3 Occurrences)

Lady (37 Occurrences)

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)

Choose (116 Occurrences)

Deceive (48 Occurrences)

Shew (226 Occurrences)