If we accept the Lexicon of the KJV... only Isaiah uses this term in the OT:
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
- Isaiah 42:1 KJV
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
- Isaiah 45:4 KJV
And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
- Isaiah 65:9 KJV
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
- Isaiah 65:22 KJV
Now can one merely rubber stamp the Hebrew word H972 בָּחִיר bâchı̂yr on top of the Greek used in the NT (G1588 ἐκλεκτός eklektos)??
The easy way out is to just say yes, but from my study of the LXX, it really isn't that easy. We have the English word "elect" in only four verses, but H972 is found 13 times in the OT, and G1588 occurs 80 times.
I think it's a problem when certain words are designated as "special" and unintended religious meaning is created to foster certain theological beliefs of Church Tradition. Just by reading the texts in their initial languages, there is no "THE ELECT" as some anointed category of people, although Paul may have intended this.
I just see the Greek words ... the selected (ones)...or the ones picked out.... and realize that within context those picked out might refer to rather different groups.
In this group who are those selected to be cast into a furnace of fire?
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
- Matthew 13:41-42 KJV
A
very careful reading of Mat. 24 would show that these "the elect" are the wicked ones selected to be removed off the face of the earth.
In peace,
Rhema