{
  "id": "dict_000906",
  "term": "Chosen People",
  "slug": "chosen-people",
  "letter": "C",
  "entry_type": "theological_term",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "The phrase most directly refers to Israel, the nation God chose for His covenant purposes and redemptive plan; in the New Testament it is also applied to believers in Christ as God’s people.",
  "simple_one_line": "God’s covenant people, first Israel and then, in Christ, all believers.",
  "tooltip_text": "A biblical phrase for those God set apart for His covenant purposes—especially Israel, and in the New Testament, believers in Christ.",
  "aliases": [],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Israel",
    "Election",
    "Covenant",
    "Abrahamic covenant",
    "People of God",
    "Church",
    "Remnant"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Deuteronomy 7:6-8",
    "Exodus 19:5-6",
    "Romans 9-11",
    "1 Peter 2:9-10",
    "Gentiles"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "“Chosen people” is a biblical covenant term. In the Old Testament it most clearly refers to Israel, whom God chose by grace and purpose, not by human merit. In the New Testament, similar language is applied to believers in Christ, showing that God is forming a people for His name through the gospel.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "Biblical term for a people selected by God for covenant relationship and redemptive purpose.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "In the Old Testament, the phrase primarily refers to Israel.",
    "God’s choice is grounded in His love, promise, and purpose, not Israel’s greatness.",
    "The New Testament applies people-of-God language to those in Christ.",
    "Christians differ on the exact relationship between Israel and the church, so the term should be defined carefully."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "In Scripture, “chosen people” names those whom God sets apart for covenant relationship and service. The Old Testament applies this most clearly to Israel; the New Testament also uses covenant-people language for believers in Christ. Care should be taken not to collapse the biblical distinction between Israel and the church without explicit textual warrant.",
  "description_academic_full": "“Chosen people” is a biblical theological expression for those whom God elects or sets apart for His covenant purposes. In the Old Testament, the term most directly describes Israel, whom God chose not because of size, strength, or moral superiority, but because of His love, oath, and sovereign purpose. Israel’s election carried privilege, responsibility, and mission: to belong to the Lord, preserve His revelation, and bear witness among the nations. In the New Testament, the church is described with related people-of-God language, indicating that all who are united to Christ by faith are included in God’s covenant family. Because Christians interpret the continuity and distinction between Israel and the church differently, a sound dictionary entry should affirm both the OT election of Israel and the NT identity of believers in Christ without making unsupported system-level claims.",
  "background_biblical_context": "The Old Testament repeatedly presents Israel as God’s chosen nation in connection with the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants. The emphasis is on divine grace and faithfulness: God chose Israel to be His treasured possession, a holy people, and a kingdom of priests. The New Testament continues the people-of-God theme by describing believers as God’s own possession, a chosen race, and a holy nation in Christ.",
  "background_historical_context": "In the ancient world, nations often claimed identity through descent, conquest, or political power. Scripture’s election language is different: Israel’s identity rests on God’s gracious initiative and covenant promise. In the apostolic era, this same language was used to explain the formation of the church from Jews and Gentiles who trust Christ.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "Second Temple Jewish writings often reflected on Israel’s election and calling, especially in connection with covenant faithfulness, exile, and restoration. These sources can illuminate the background of the biblical idea, but Scripture remains the controlling authority for defining who God’s chosen people are.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Deuteronomy 7:6-8",
    "Exodus 19:5-6",
    "Isaiah 41:8-9",
    "Isaiah 43:20-21",
    "1 Peter 2:9-10"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Romans 9:4-5",
    "Romans 11:1-5, 28-29",
    "Ephesians 1:4-5",
    "Titus 2:14",
    "Revelation 5:9-10"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "The Old Testament commonly uses Hebrew vocabulary for choosing or selecting, and the New Testament uses Greek terms for election and God’s chosen people. The emphasis is on God’s gracious initiative rather than human achievement.",
  "theological_significance": "The doctrine highlights God’s sovereign grace, covenant faithfulness, and missionary purpose. It also requires careful distinction between Israel’s historical election and the New Testament’s application of people-of-God language to those in Christ.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "The term addresses identity and belonging: who counts as God’s people, on what basis, and for what purpose. Biblically, belonging is grounded in divine initiative and covenant promise rather than ethnicity, merit, or social status alone.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not flatten the biblical story into a single undifferentiated category. The Old Testament’s primary reference is Israel, while the New Testament’s application to believers in Christ must be handled with textual care. Avoid using the phrase to deny either Israel’s historical election or the gospel’s inclusion of Gentiles.",
  "major_views_note": "Interpretive differences mainly concern how Israel and the church relate in God’s plan. All orthodox readings should affirm Israel’s election in the Old Testament and the New Testament teaching that believers in Christ are God’s people. They differ on the degree of continuity, future role of ethnic Israel, and covenant structure.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry should affirm God’s true election of Israel in redemptive history and the New Testament identity of believers as God’s people in Christ. It should not require a specific end-times system, nor should it deny the plain biblical distinctions between Israel, the church, and the nations.",
  "practical_significance": "The phrase encourages gratitude for God’s grace, humility, and covenant faithfulness. It also reminds readers that God forms a people for Himself, calling them to holiness, witness, and faithful obedience.",
  "meta_description": "Biblical term for God’s covenant people, especially Israel in the Old Testament and believers in Christ in the New Testament.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/chosen-people/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/chosen-people.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}