Called

Kaleo (Strong’s number 2564)

Naming literally

  • Romans 4:17 Who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did
  • 1 Corinthians 15:9 Who am not worthy to be called an apostle
  • 1 Peter 3:6 Sarah…calling him Lord
  • Revelation 1:9 On the island called Patmos
  • Revelation 12:9 That serpent of old called the Devil and Satan
  • Revelation 16:16 To the place called Har-Meggido

Naming figuratively

  • Romans 9:25 – 26 I will call them My people who were not My people…They shall be called sons of the living God
  • Hebrews 2:11 He is not ashamed to call them brethren
  • Hebrews 3:13 While it is called Today
  • Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out
  • James 2:23 He was called the friend of God
  • 1 John 3:1 That we should be called children of God
  • Revelation 11:8 The great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified
  • Revelation 19:11 He who sat on the horse was called Faithful and True
  • Revelation 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called the Word of God

Naming spiritually

  • Romans 8:30 Whom He predestined He also called; whom He called, these He also justified…
  • Romans 9:7, Hebrews 11:18 In Isaac your seed shall be called
  • Romans 9:11 Election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls
  • Romans 9:24 Even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles
  • 1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son
  • 1 Corinthians 7:15 For God has called us to peace
  • 1 Corinthians 7:17 – 24 As the Lord has called each one, so let him walk
  • Galatians 1:6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you
  • Galatians 1:15 – 16 Called me through His grace to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles
  • Galatians 5:8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you
  • Galatians 5:13 You, brethren, have been called to liberty
  • Ephesians 4:1 Walk worthy of the calling to which you were called
  • Ephesians 4:4 You were called in one hope of your calling
  • Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:12 Walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory
  • 1 Thessalonians 4:7 God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful
  • 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 14 God from the beginning chose you for salvation by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord
  • 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called
  • 2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling…according to His own purpose…before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior
  • Hebrews 5:4 No man takes this honor to himself but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.
  • Hebrews 9:15 That those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance
  • 1 Peter 1:15 He who called you is holy, you also be holy
  • 1 Peter 2:9 Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
  • 1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example
  • 1 Peter 3:9 Blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing
  • 1 Peter 5:10 May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus…
  • 2 Peter 1:3 Who called us by glory and virtue
  • Revelation 19:9 Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb

Summary

  • Literally, the word means to apply a description to something: a name, position, or the personification of a quality
  • Christians are called by the gospel, by Jesus, by His grace, by His character, and by His virtue
  • Christians are called to the fellowship of His Son, peace, liberty, His kingdom, His character, holiness, eternal life, suffering, light, a blessing, eternal glory, and to the marriage supper of the Lamb.
  • The only people mentioned as having received a specific call are Paul, as an apostle, and Jesus, as the eternal High Priest.
  • Many claim a “calling” to a certain religious activity. This usage has no parallel in the New Testament unless the speaker is claiming divine endorsement.

 

Kletos (kletos, 2822)

 

Appointed, bearing a title

  • Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul,…called an apostle
  • Romans 1:6 Among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ
  • Romans 1:7, 1 Corinthians 1:2 Called saints
  • Romans 8:28 To those who are called according to His purpose
  • 1 Corinthians 1:24 But to those who are called…the power of God
  • Jude 1 To those who are called sanctified by God

 

Klhsis (klesis, 2821)

 

To possess an appointment

  • Romans 11:29 The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable
  • 1 Corinthians 1:26 Consider your calling, brethren, that not many wise…mighty…noble
  • 1 Corinthians 7:20 Let each remain in the same calling in which he was called
  • Ephesians 1:18 That you may know the hope of His calling
  • Ephesians 4:4 You were called in one hope of your calling
  • Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God
  • 2 Thessalonians 1:11 That our God would count you worthy of this calling
  • 2 Timothy 1:9 Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling…according to His own purpose…before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior
  • Hebrews 3:1 Partakers of the heavenly calling
  • 2 Peter 1:10 Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure