Choices of the New Testament (A Word Study)

A question was recently asked on Twitter whether Jesus paid for the sins of people that reject Him and, as expected, the comments came in fast and hard.

I am not going to attempt to answer the poll question here, but instead would like to move on to a different topic that was brought up in many of the comments on that poll: choice. Specifically, what is the difference between God choosing Man and Man choosing God?

How is that word “choice” used in the New Testament? Does the Bible ever talk about a person choosing to follow Christ? Are there a dozen verses that tell of such an event? I genuinely was not sure, but given how widespread that belief is, I suspected the Bible would have at least a handful of such passages.

One comment on the above poll mentioned that “there are plenty of places in scripture about the choice to be a follower of Christ,” and it was that comment that inspired me to look into it further, because I assumed that to be true.

So I began using my tools to search through the entire New Testament for any time a conscious “choice” word was used in the NASB95 English translation.

My method, in brief: I began searching for the English words “choice,” “chose“, “choose,” “chooses,” “chosen,” and “selected.” From there, I went to the Greek (using Strong’s Concordance) and found any usages of the Greek words translated into the English words above.

My goal was to be as objective as possible. I was not looking only for verses that supported what I already believed to be true, but included every verse I was able to find that matched the criteria. It is possible I left one or two out on accident, or perhaps there were other synonyms for “choice” that I did not think of. If you notice any errors in the passages selected, please let me know!

Below are my findings, organized into contextual categories based on the type of choice: God Chooses Man, Man Chooses God, Other Choices of God, and just Other “Choices” that don’t quite apply to this study.

I have also included the Greek word that was translated within each verse for reference.

Note: I am not interpreting these passages here, beyond adding them to categories (let me know if I’ve miscategorized any and why). I leave the interpretations to the reader and the Holy Spirit. 😊

God Chooses Man

• Matthew 22:14
  “For many are called, but few are chosen (eklektos; G1588).”
• Matthew 24:22
  “Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect (eklektos; G1588) those days will be cut short.”
• Matthew 24:24
  “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect (eklektos; G1588).”
• Matthew 24:31
  “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect (eklektos; G1588) from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”
• Mark 13:20
  “Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect (eklektos; G1588), whom He chose (eklegomai; G1586), He shortened the days.”
• Mark 13:22
  for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect (eklektos; G1588).
• Mark 13:27
  “And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect (eklektos; G1588) from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.
• Luke 6:13
  “And when day came, He called His disciples to Him and chose (eklegomai; G1586) twelve of them, whom He also named as apostles”
• Luke 12:32
  “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen (eudokeō; G2106) gladly to give you the kingdom.”
• Luke 18:6-7
  And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect (eklektos; G1588) who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?”
• John 6:70
  Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose (eklegomai; G1586) you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?”
• John 13:18
  “I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen (eklegomai; G1586); but it is that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘HE WHO EATS MY BREAD HAS LIFTED UP HIS HEEL AGAINST ME.'”
• John 15:16
  “You did not choose (eklegomai; G1586) Me but I chose (eklegomai; G1586) you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit,”…
• John 15:19
  “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose (eklegomai; G1586) you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”
• Acts 1:2
  “until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen (eklegomai; G1586).”
• Acts 1:24
  And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen (eklegomai; G1586)”
• Acts 9:15
  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen (eklogē; G1589) instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;
• Acts 10:40-41
  “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen (procheirotoneō; G4401) beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.”
• Acts 13:17
  “The God of this people Israel chose (eklegomai; G1586) our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.”
• Acts 15:7
  “…you know that in the early days God made a choice (eklegomai; G1586) among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.”
• Romans 8:33
  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect (eklektos; G1588)? God is the one who justifies;
• Romans 9:11
  “for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice (eklogē; G1589) would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls”
• Romans 11:5
  “In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice (eklogē; G1589).”
• Romans 11:7
  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen (eklogē; G1589) obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
• Romans 11:28
  “From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice (eklogē; G1589) they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;”
• Ephesians 1:4
  just as He chose (eklegomai; G1586) us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
• Colossians 3:12
  So, as those who have been chosen (eklektos; G1588) of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
• 1 Thessalonians 1:2,4
  “We give thanks to God always for all of you, […] knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice (eklogē, G1589) of you;”
• 2 Thessalonians 2:13
  But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen (aihreomai; G138) you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.
• 2 Timothy 2:10
  For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen (eklektos; G1588), so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.
• Titus 1:1
  Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen (eklektos; G1588) of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
• James 2:5
  Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose (eklegomai; 1586) the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?
• 1 Peter 1:1-2
  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen (eklektos; G1588) according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.
• 1 Peter 2:9
  But you are A CHOSEN (eklektos; G1588) RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
• 1 Peter 5:13
  She who is in Babylon, chosen (suneklektos; G4899) together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
• 2 Peter 1:10
  Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing (eklogē; G1589) you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
• 2 John 1
  The elder to the chosen (eklektos; G1588) lady and her children, whom I love in truth; and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
• 2 John 13
  The children of your chosen (eklektos; G1588) sister greet you.
• Revelation 17:14
  “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen (eklektos; G1588) and faithful.”

Man Chooses God

• Luke 10:42
  “but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen (eklegomai; G1586) the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Other Choices of God

• Matthew 12:18
  “Behold, My Servant who I have chosen (aihretizō; G140); my Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased…”
• Luke 9:35
  Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen (eklegomai; G1586) One; listen to Him!”
• 1 Corinthians 1:27-28
  but God has chosen (eklegomai; G1586) the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen (eklegomai; G1586) the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen (eklegomai; G1586), the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.
• 1 Timothy 5:21
  I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen (eklektos; G1588) angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
• 1 Peter 2:6
  For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE (eklektos; G1588) STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
  

Other “Choices”

• Romans 16:13
  “Greet Rufus, a choice (eklektos; G1588) man in the Lord, also his mother and mine.”
• Luke 1:9
  “according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen (lagchanō; G2975) by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.”
• Luke 10:42
  “but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen (eklegomai; G1586) the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
• Luke 14:7
  And He began speaking a parable to the invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking (eklegomai; G1586) out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,
• Luke 23:35
  …”He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen (eklektos; G1588) One.”
• Acts 6:3
  “Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
• Acts 6:5
  The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose (eklegomai; G1586) Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit,…
• Acts 15:22
  “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose (eklegomai; G1586) men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas…”
• Acts 15:40
  But Paul chose (epilegomai; G1951) Silas and left, being committed by the brethren to the grace of the Lord.
• Philippians 1:22
  But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose (aihreomai; G138).
• Hebrews 11:24-25
  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing (aihreomai; G138) rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
• 1 Peter 2:4
  And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice (eklektos, G1588) and precious in the sight of God,

Conclusion

To be honest, my study surprised me.

When I first read that “there are plenty of places in scripture about the choice to be a follower of Christ,” I honestly expected to find some. Other than one singular mention of Mary “choosing” to listen to Jesus teach, I was unable to find any instance in the entire New Testament that speaks of Man choosing to follow Christ, or accepting Him as their Savior.

To be fair, the Bible speaks a few times about “accepting” the testimonies of Christ, the prophets, and the Apostles (ie: John 3:11, Acts 22:18), but even those passages do not necessarily imply that acceptance is the same as coming to saving faith.

In any case, it was a fascinating look into the Word today and I have compiled what I believe to be a complete list of the active “choosing” that took place in the New Testament, and I think that is really awesome.