How Many Chosen Ones Are In The Bible?
The concept of the ‘chosen one’ in the Bible refers to those selected by God for a special purpose or destiny. This article will provide a comprehensive analysis of the different groups and individuals described as ‘chosen’ throughout Scripture.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: While several key figures like Moses, King David and the apostles are described as ‘chosen’, ultimately Jesus Christ is portrayed as the preeminent Chosen One in the Bible.
Old Testament References to Chosen Ones
Moses and Israel as God’s Chosen People
The Old Testament contains several references to God choosing the Israelites as his special people. The first instance is when God calls Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land (Exodus 3:10).
God tells Moses, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
This shows that God selected the Israelites as his chosen people, destined to inhabit the Promised Land.
After freeing the Israelites from Egypt through mighty miracles like the 10 plagues and the parting of the Red Sea, God establishes a covenant with them at Mount Sinai. He gives them the 10 Commandments and other laws to follow, and declares in Exodus 19:5-6, “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.
Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” This formalizes Israel’s status as the chosen people of God.
God promises to be actively involved with his chosen people, guiding, protecting and providing for them. For instance, he leads them through the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21). When they are hungry, God provides manna and quail for them to eat (Exodus 16).
When they are thirsty, God produces water from a rock for them to drink (Exodus 17:1-7). Though the Israelites rebel and disobey at times, God remains faithful to them as his chosen people.
King David – Chosen to Lead Israel
One prominent Old Testament figure specially chosen by God is David. While just a young shepherd boy watching his father’s sheep, the prophet Samuel anoints David to be the next king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-13).
God rejects Saul as king for his disobedience and chooses David, “a man after his own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14). The Spirit of the Lord comes powerfully upon David from that day forward.
Though Saul continues to reign as king for some time, David is clearly God’s chosen leader for Israel. God gives him special help and protection, such as enabling the young David to defeat the Philistine giant Goliath in battle (1 Samuel 17).
Eventually David becomes king, and under his leadership unites the tribes of Israel and defeats their enemies. God makes this promise to David about his offspring in 2 Samuel 7:16 – “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.”
This points ahead to the greater Chosen One from David’s line – Jesus.
New Testament Depictions of the Chosen
Jesus Christ – The Chosen Messiah
Jesus Christ is portrayed throughout the New Testament as the long-awaited Messiah who was chosen by God to save humanity. According to the Gospels, Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was God’s only begotten Son (Luke 1:35).
During his baptism, God’s voice from heaven declared Jesus as his beloved Son (Mark 1:11). Furthermore, Jesus is referenced as the “chosen one” and God’s “elect” several times in the New Testament (Luke 23:35, 1 Peter 2:4).
The Gospel writers connect Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection to Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah. For example, Matthew references the prophet Isaiah’s description of God’s suffering servant as being fulfilled in Jesus (Matthew 12:17-21).
Clearly, the New Testament presents Jesus as the long-awaited chosen one sent by God to redeem humanity.
The Disciples – Selected by Christ
The twelve disciples hold a special place in the New Testament as the men chosen by Christ to spread his gospel message. According to Mark 3:13-19 and Matthew 10:1-4, Jesus personally selected twelve followers to be his closest disciples.
This sending out of the twelve likely parallels the twelve tribes of Israel, showing the disciples’ role in the foundation of the new covenant people of God.
The Gospel writers highlight that the disciples did not choose Jesus, but rather Jesus chose them for their divinely appointed mission (John 15:16). Though ordinary men, the disciples were empowered and emboldened by the Holy Spirit to take the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Two of the twelve, Peter and John, emerge as leaders of the early church in Acts while the rest continue to preach and teach. The New Testament makes clear these twelve men were specifically chosen by Christ to advance God’s kingdom.
Biblical Prophecies About the Chosen
The concept of the “chosen one” appears several times throughout the Bible, referring to those selected by God for a special purpose or destiny. Here are some of the key biblical prophecies and stories related to the chosen:
Israel as God’s Chosen People
One of the most prominent ideas is that of the Israelites being God’s chosen people. For example:
- “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (Deuteronomy 7:6)
- “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his treasured possession” (Psalm 135:4)
Being chosen by God did not imply the Israelites were superior, but rather that they had a unique duty to worship God and fulfill His will for humanity. However, Bible scholars debate the reasons for and meaning of their favored status.
The Chosen Servant
Isaiah contains several “Servant songs” about a figure called the “servant of the Lord.” Isaiah 49:1-7 refers to this servant as being “called from the womb,” chosen to restore Israel and be “a light for the Gentiles.” Many Christians see this as an early prophecy about Jesus Christ.
Mary Chosen to Bear Jesus
In the New Testament, the angel Gabriel declares Mary as “favored” by God to give birth to Jesus, the prophesied Messiah (Luke 1:28-33). Her selection fits the pattern of God choosing unexpected candidates to fulfill His will, as Mary was a young, ordinary woman.
Jesus as God’s Chosen
Accounts of Jesus’ life and ministry emphasize Him as the long-awaited Chosen One:
- At Jesus’ baptism, a voice from heaven says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17)
- Peter calls Jesus “the Messiah (Christ) of God” (Luke 9:20)
- Jesus applies Isaiah’s prophecy about a chosen servant to Himself (Luke 4:18-19)
So while the term “chosen one” has multiple nuanced meanings in the Bible, it clearly centers on Jesus as God’s ultimate selection to save humanity and fulfill God’s redemptive plan written about in Scripture!
Conclusion
While the Bible refers to some prominent figures like Moses, David and the apostles as ‘chosen’, Jesus Christ stands above all as the supreme Chosen One according to Scripture. Though others were selected for special roles, Christ alone is portrayed as the preordained Messiah sent to redeem humanity.
