συνεκλεκτός

fellow-elect

Definition

The adjective συνεκλεκτός (syneklektos) means 'fellow-elect' or 'chosen together with.' It describes individuals who share in the same divine election or calling. In its sole New Testament occurrence, it is used as a title of honor and solidarity, identifying a specific person as a co-participant in God's chosen people. The term emphasizes communal identity within God's redemptive plan, highlighting that election is not merely individual but connects believers to one another.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 5:13, where the apostle Peter refers to the church in Babylon as 'she who is in Babylon, chosen together with you' (using a feminine form συνεκλεκτή) and sends greetings from 'Mark my son.' Here, it functions as a collective designation for a local church community, underscoring their shared status as God's elect alongside the letter's recipients.

Etymology

The word is a compound adjective formed from the preposition σύν (syn), meaning 'with' or 'together,' and the adjective ἐκλεκτός (eklektos, G1588), meaning 'chosen' or 'elect.' Literally, it means 'chosen together with.' It builds on the important biblical concept of election, adding a relational dimension of mutual participation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it vividly connects the doctrine of election to Christian community. It teaches that God's choice of individuals inherently places them into a shared, corporate identity. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by showing that election in the New Testament is not a solitary privilege but a call into fellowship with all other believers, a truth Peter emphasizes to encourage persecuted churches.

In the Greco-Roman world, terms of shared identity and honorific titles were important for reinforcing group solidarity, especially among minority or persecuted groups. By calling a distant church 'fellow-elect,' Peter uses a culturally resonant concept to strengthen the bonds between geographically separated Christians, assuring them of their equal standing and shared destiny in Christ despite physical separation.

ἐκλεκτός (eklektos, G1588) — The root word meaning 'chosen' or 'elect,' focusing on the status itself rather than the shared aspect. | κλητός (klētos, G2822) — Means 'called' or 'invited,' emphasizing the act of calling rather than the state of being chosen.

Word Details

Scripture References