Read 2 Peter 1 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Greek Testament does not contain paragraph markers.
The Chiastic structure:
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble. For in this way, the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you. 2 Pet 1:10-11
Peter implies that a person can respond to the calling of salvation, but it might not be sure unless that person is diligent. Let’s dig into the Greek and Hebrew via the Septuagint to see what he is saying:
Calling is from Strong’s G2821, κλῆσις klēsis, “invitation;” translating the Hebrew Strong’s H7121, קרא qara, “to call.”
The Hebrew Root Word parable reveals that inherent in the call is responding to it so that an assembly is gathered.
Election is from Strong’s G1588, ἐκλεκτός eklektós, “chosen;” translating the Hebrew Strong’s H977, בחר bachar, “to choose.”
The Hebrew Root Word parable likens bachar to selecting that which is choicest for the firstfruits offering. This is the same word used for Israel as God’s chosen people.
Before Yeshua came, His chosen people were exclusively Israel, because they were the only ones in covenant with YHVH. After Yeshua, the invitation to join the covenant was extended to Gentiles—everyone else. Those who respond, are grafted in to the olive tree of Israel (Rom 11:17-24) and become partakers of the covenants of promise (Eph 2:11-19).
The Greek eklektós, “election,” simply means that anyone who will (Joh 3:16) can respond to the call of salvation, and be gathered into the covenant with YHVH, joining God’s chosen people–all those who are of Him and not of the world.
Many are called but few are chosen. Mat 22:14
This statement of Yeshua’s uses the same two Greek words, “called,” and “chosen.” It comes at the end of the parable of the wedding feast, where those originally invited couldn’t be bothered to come, so the servants went out to the highways and brought in all who would come. But when one guest did not have on a “wedding garment,” he was cast out. The wedding garment, per Rev 19:8, is the righteous deeds of the saints.
Those who respond to the call still must be chosen to remain. And those who are chosen are those whose root of faith produces the fruit of faith:
And for this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with endurance, and endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 2 Pet 1:5-7
It’s not about losing a static state of salvation, but about whether faith resulting in salvation is a dynamic, living process. It’s about whether faith is truly rooted in the first place. Truly rooted faith always results in a reborn nature that cannot help but produce the fruit of that faith.
If there are questions, this is a good resource:
Matthew 22, Called and chosen – Christine Miller
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