Called And Chosen

Vocatus Apostolus... Nomen hoc, id est vocatus, quia ad omnes pertinet qui in Christo credunt, generale potest videri sed unusquisque secundum id quod in eo praevidit et elegit Deus, aut apostolus vocatur, aut propheta, aut magister, aut liber ab uxore, aut servus in conjuge; et pro diversitate gratiae completur illud quod scriptum est: Multi sunt vocati, pacui autem electi. Sciendum tamen est quod possibile est aliquem esse vocatum apostolum, aut vocatum prophetam, aut vocatum magistrum, et si neglexerit vocationis suae gratiam, decidere ex ea, sicut et Judas, qui apostolus vocactus est, et negligens vocationis suae gratiam, ex apostolo effectus est proditor. Et fuit quidem vocatus apostolus, sed non fuit electus apostolus. Sed et ille prophet qui in tertio Regnorum libro refertur prophetasse de Jeroboam, vocatus propheta fuit; si autem electus, ipse discutito, quonaim quidem prohibitus panem manducare in Israel, manducavit, et interemptus est a leone. Sunt et multi vocati magistri per omnes Ecclesias Dei, et vocati ministri; sed necscio qui in his electi magistri sint, et electi ministri. Sic et puto esse quosdam vocatos quidem ut patiantur pro Christo, non tamen electos; id est, vocatos martyres, sed non electos martyres; ut sunt illi qui post tormentorum agones et carcerum, non usque ad finem in confessionis tolerantia perdurarunt. Est et vocata virgo, sed non electa virgo; quae scilicet non fuerit sancta corpore et spiritu. Et est vocatus pastor, sed non electus pastor, qui praeest quidem gregi, et lacte ejus utitur, et lanis ejus operitur; sed infirmum non requirit, et claudum non colligit, et fortem circumscribit in labore. Ita est et vocatus abstinens, sed non electus abstinens, scilicet qui jejunat tristis, et exterminans faciem suam ut hominibus placeat. Sed et per singulos gratiarum gradus similiter invenies multos quidem vocatos, paucos autem electos. Origenes, Commentariorum In Epistolam Beati Pauli Ad Romanos, Liber Primus, Interprete Rufino Aquileiense Source: Migne PG 14.840a-842a

Called to be an Apostle...1 This word, that is 'called,' because it pertains to everyone who believes in Christ, it is possible to consider generally, but each one, according to what God foresees and chooses in him, either is called to be an Apostle, or prophet, or teacher, or free from a wife, or a servant in marriage, and according to the diversity of grace it is fulfilled with is written, 'Many are called, few are chosen.' 2 It must be known, however, that it is possible that someone is called as an Apostle, or prophet, or teacher, and if he neglects the grace of his vocation, he is cut off from it, as Judas, who was called an Apostle, and neglecting the grace of his vocation was made a traitor from an Apostle. And certainly he was called to be an Apostle, but he was not a chosen Apostle. Even that prophet in the third book of Kings who was said to have prophesised to Jeroboam, was called a prophet, but if chosen, he ruined himself, because being prohibited to eat bread in Israel, he ate and was slain by a lion. 3 There are many who are called teachers throughout all the Churches of God, and ministers, but I do not know who among them are chosen teachers and ministers. So I think there are some called to suffer for Christ, but they are not chosen, that is, they are called martyrs, but they are not 'chosen' martyrs. They are the ones who after the agony of torments and prison, do not endure in the patience of confession to the end. She is called to be a virgin, but not a chosen virgin, who shall not be holy in body and spirit. And he is called a shepherd but not a chosen shepherd, who has charge of the flock, and makes use of its milk and covers himself in its wool, but he does not seek out the weak, and he does not attend to the lame, and he heaps toil on the strong. 4 Thus a man called abstains, but in abstincence he is not chosen, as he who grieves to fast and disgures his face that he might please men. 5 And through each step of grace similarly we find many who are called and few who are chosen. Origen, from the Commentary on the Letter of Paul to the Romans, Book 1, Translated by Rufinus of Aquileia. 1 Rom 9.3 2 Mt 22.14 3 3 Kings 13.1-25 4 Ezek 34.3-4 5 Mt 6.16