Words of Greeting to The Called

Words of Greeting in New Testament Letters

Our New Testament has 21 documents that are essentially letters. These inspired letters accommodated the normal writing conventions of the day. They usually begin with a greeting which tells us who wrote the letter and to whom it was written. There is often a blessing and/or prayer followed by some form of thanksgiving. Once the letter is completed, the author will end with a concluding statement and farewell.

The purpose of this study is to examine them within their grammatical framework.  Why?  Simply put, my experience has shown me that we miss a tremendous encouragement if we skip over the Holy Spirit inspired greetings written by the New Testament authors.   I start with Jude for no other reason other than it has been such a huge blessing to me.  One of the things that will differ from my normal study methods is that I will spend little to no time on the cultural or historical background.  Our task will be simply to look carefully at the greeting

“Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.” (Jude 1–2, ESV)

1Jude a [humble] bond slave of Jesus Christ and a brother to James [the Apostle and Church Leader, writing with his authority], to [the] effectually called and come in faith in Christ Jesus, these ones loved by the Father (or in the Father) and are kept by (or for) Jesus Christ. 2May all the virtues you need (mercy, peace and love) be experienced by you in increased measure.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we often identify ourselves as Christians, or disciples of Jesus.  We may, as Jude does, identify ourselves as “servants of Christ Jesus”.  The New Testament also refers to us as “The Called”.   When Paul wrote the Christians in Rome he referred to them as “you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,” (Romans 1:6, ESV).  John writes in the Revelation “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”” (Revelation 17:14, ESV).

In 1 Corinthians 1:22–24 (ESV), Paul writes,

“²² For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

“We preach Christ crucified,” he writes.  Everyone hears the Gospel, but to some Jesus is just a foolish concept.  But to “The Called”, He is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

What a blessing to be called, The Called. The Called are beloved by the Father, kept for the Son.  The Called are the chosen and the faithful.  The Called see the glory of God in the face of Christ.  The Called are bequeathed all the grace necessary to their calling. 

The Church is Christ’s own Body,

The Father’s dwelling-place,

The gathering of the called ones,

God blended with man’s race;

Elect before creation,

Redeemed by Calv’ry’s death

Her character and standing

Of heaven, not of earth.

-          - Witness Lee