2822. klétos

Lexicon

klétos: Called, invited

Original Word: κλητός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: klétos
Pronunciation: klay-tos'
Phonetic Spelling: (klay-tos')
Definition: Called, invited
Meaning: called, invited, summoned by God to an office or to salvation.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

called.

From the same as klesis; invited, i.e. Appointed, or (specially), a saint -- called.

see GREEK klesis

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2822 klētós – literally, "called" (derived from 2564/kaleō, "to call, summon"). See 2821 (klēsis).

In the NT, 2822 /klētós ("divinely called") focuses on God's general call – i.e. the call (invitation) He gives to all people, so all can receive His salvation. God desires every person to call out to Him and receive His salvation (1 Tim 2:4,5). "Unfortunately, many choose not to – but all can; all don't but all can call out to God for His mercy (not just 'some')" (G. Archer). See 2821 /klēsis ("calling").

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from kaleó
Definition
called
NASB Translation
called (9), calling (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 2822: κλητός

κλητός, κλητή, κλητον (κλαέω) (from Homer down), called, invited (to a banquet (1 Kings 1:41, 49); 3Macc. 5:14; Aeschines 50, 1); in the N. T.

a. "invited (by God in the proclamation of the gospel) to obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God through Christ" (see καλέω, 1 b. β'. (cf. Winer's Grammar, 35 (34))): Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:24; Jude 1:1; κλητοί καί ἐκλεκτοί καί πιστοί, Revelation 17:14; κλητοί and ἐκλεκτοί are distinguished (see ἐκλεκτός, 1 a.) in Matthew 20:16 (T WH omit; Tr brackets the clause); Matthew 22:14, a distinction which does not agree with Paul's view (see καλέω, as above; (Weiss, Biblical Theol. § 88; Lightfoot's Commentary on Colossians 3:12)); κλητοί Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, genitive of possessor (Winers Grammar, 195 (183); Buttmann, § 132, 23), devoted to Christ and united to him, Romans 1:6; κλητοί ἅγιοι, "holy (or 'saints') by the calling of God," Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2.

b. called to (the discharge of) some office: κλητός ἀπόστολος, i. e. divinely selected and appointed (see καλέω, as above), Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1 (L brackets κλητός); cf. Galatians 1:15.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb καλέω (kaleō), meaning "to call" or "to invite."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of being "called" in the Hebrew Bible is often associated with the verb קָרָא (qara, Strong's Hebrew 7121), which means "to call," "to proclaim," or "to name." This Hebrew term is used in various contexts, including God's calling of individuals to specific tasks or roles, such as the calling of the prophets or the nation of Israel as God's chosen people.

Usage: The word κλητός appears in the New Testament to describe those who are called by God, particularly in the context of salvation and divine purpose. It is used to denote individuals who have been invited to enter into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Context: The term κλητός is significant in the New Testament, where it is used to describe those who have been called by God to fulfill His divine purposes. This calling is not merely an invitation but carries the weight of a divine summons, often associated with the concept of being chosen or set apart for a specific role or destiny within God's redemptive plan.

In the Pauline epistles, κλητός is frequently used to refer to believers who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. For instance, in Romans 1:6, Paul writes, "And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ." This calling is both a privilege and a responsibility, as it implies a transformation of identity and purpose.

The concept of being κλητός is closely linked to the idea of election and predestination, suggesting that those who are called have been foreknown and chosen by God. This is evident in passages such as Romans 8:28, where Paul states, "And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose."

Furthermore, κλητός is used in the context of the eschatological hope of believers. In Revelation 17:14, it is written, "They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and with Him will be His called, chosen, and faithful followers."

Theologically, the term underscores the initiative of God in the process of salvation, emphasizing that it is God who calls individuals to Himself, and this calling is effectual, leading to a response of faith and obedience.

Forms and Transliterations

κηλτοί κληταί κλητάς κλητή κλητοι κλητοί κλητοὶ κλητοις κλητοίς κλητοῖς κλητος κλητός κλητὸς κλητούς kletoi kletoí kletoì klētoi klētoí klētoì kletois kletoîs klētois klētoîs kletos kletòs klētos klētòs

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 20:16 Adj-NMP
GRK: γὰρ εἰσιν κλητοί ὀλίγοι δὲ
KJV: many be called, but few
INT: indeed are called few however

Matthew 22:14 Adj-NMP
GRK: γάρ εἰσιν κλητοὶ ὀλίγοι δὲ
NAS: For many are called, but few
KJV: many are called, but few
INT: indeed are called few however

Romans 1:1 Adj-NMS
GRK: Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ κλητὸς ἀπόστολος ἀφωρισμένος
NAS: Jesus, called [as] an apostle,
KJV: Christ, called [to be] an apostle,
INT: of Jesus Christ a called apostle set apart

Romans 1:6 Adj-NMP
GRK: καὶ ὑμεῖς κλητοὶ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ
NAS: you also are the called of Jesus
KJV: ye also the called of Jesus Christ:
INT: also you called of Jesus Christ

Romans 1:7 Adj-DMP
GRK: ἀγαπητοῖς θεοῦ κλητοῖς ἁγίοις χάρις
NAS: in Rome, called [as] saints:
KJV: of God, called [to be] saints:
INT: beloved of God called saints grace

Romans 8:28 Adj-DMP
GRK: κατὰ πρόθεσιν κλητοῖς οὖσιν
NAS: to those who are called according
KJV: to them who are the called according
INT: according to [his] purpose called are

1 Corinthians 1:1 Adj-NMS
GRK: ΠΑΥΛΟΣ κλητὸς ἀπόστολος Ἰησοῦ
NAS: Paul, called [as] an apostle of Jesus
KJV: Paul, called [to be] an apostle
INT: Paul a called apostle of Jesus

1 Corinthians 1:2 Adj-DMP
GRK: Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ κλητοῖς ἁγίοις σὺν
NAS: saints by calling, with all
KJV: Jesus, called [to be] saints,
INT: Christ Jesus called saints with

1 Corinthians 1:24 Adj-DMP
GRK: δὲ τοῖς κλητοῖς Ἰουδαίοις τε
NAS: but to those who are the called, both
KJV: unto them which are called, both Jews
INT: however the called Jews both

Jude 1:1 Adj-DMP
GRK: Χριστῷ τετηρημένοις κλητοῖς
NAS: To those who are the called, beloved
KJV: in Jesus Christ, [and] called:
INT: Christ kept called [ones]

Revelation 17:14 Adj-NMP
GRK: μετ' αὐτοῦ κλητοὶ καὶ ἐκλεκτοὶ
NAS: who are with Him [are the] called and chosen
KJV: him [are] called, and
INT: with him called and chosen

Strong's Greek 2822
11 Occurrences

κλητοί — 4 Occ.
κλητοῖς — 5 Occ.
κλητὸς — 2 Occ.