Bible Dictionaries
Call, Called, Calling

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

derived from the root kal---, whence Eng. "call" and "clamor" (see B and C, below), is used (a) with a personal object, "to call anyone, invite, summon," e.g., Matthew 20:8; 25:14; it is used particularly of the Divine call to partake of the blessings of redemption, e.g., Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Thessalonians 2:12; Hebrews 9:15; cp. B and C, below; (b) of nomenclature or vocation, "to call by a name, to name;" in the Passive Voice, "to be called by a name, to bear a name." Thus it suggests either vocation or destination; the context determines which, e.g., Romans 9:25-26; "surname," in Acts 15:37 , AV, is incorrect (RV, "was called"). See BID , NAME.

lit., "to call in," hence, "to invite" (eis, "in," and No. 1), is found in Acts 10:23 .

epi, "upon," and No. 1., denotes (a) "to surname;" (b) "to be called by a person's name;" hence it is used of being declared to be dedicated to a person, as to the Lord, Acts 15:17 (from Amos 9:12 ); James 2:7; (c) "to call a person by a name by charging him with an offense," as the Pharisees charged Christ with doing His works by the help of Beelzebub, Matthew 10:25 (the most authentic reading has epikaleo, for kaleo); (d) "to call upon, invoke;" in the Middle Voice, "to call upon for oneself" (i.e., on one's behalf), Acts 7:59 , or "to call upon a person as a witness," 2 Corinthians 1:23 , or to appeal to an authority, Acts 25:11 , etc.; (e) "to call upon by way of adoration, making use of the Name of the Lord," Acts 2:21; Romans 10:12-14; 2 Timothy 2:22 . See APPEAL , SURNAME.

meta, implying "change," and No. 1, "to call from one place to another, to summon" (cp. the Sept. of Hosea 11:1 ), is used in the Middle Voice only, "to call for oneself, to send for, call hither," Acts 7:14; 10:32; 20:17; 24:25 .

pros, "to," and No. 1, signifies (a) "to call to oneself, to bid to come;" it is used only in the Middle Voice, e.g., Matthew 10:1; Acts 5:40; James 5:14; (b) "God's call to Gentiles through the Gospel," Acts 2:39; (c) the Divine call in entrusting men with the preaching of the Gospel," Acts 13:2; 16:10 .

signifies "to call together," Mark 15:16; Luke 9:1; 15:6,9; 23:13; Acts 5:21; 10:24; 28:17 .

Notes: (1) Enkaleo, Acts 19:40 , AV, "called in question," signifies "to accuse," as always in the RV. See ACCUSE , IMPLEAD.

(2) Parakaleo, "to beseech, intreat," is rendered "have called for" in Acts 28:20 , AV; RV, "did intreat" (marg., "call for"). It is used only here with this meaning. See BESEECH.

"to ask," is translated "called for" in Acts 16:29 ("he called for lights"). See ASK , A. No. 1.

Note: For the RV of Matthew 19:17 (AV, "callest"), see ASK (A, No. 2, Note).

"to sound" (Eng., "phone"), is used of the crowing of a cock, e.g., Matthew 26:34; John 13:38; of "calling" out with a clear or loud voice, to cry out, e.g., Mark 1:26 (some mss. have krazo here); Acts 16:28; of "calling" to come to oneself, e.g., Matthew 20:32; Luke 19:15; of "calling" forth, as of Christ's call to Lazarus to come forth from the tomb, John 12:17; of inviting, e.g., Luke 14:12; of "calling" by name, with the implication of the pleasure taken in the possession of those "called," e.g., John 10:3; 13:13 . See CROW , CRY.

"to speak," is used of all kinds of oral communication, e.g., "to call, to call by name," to surname, Matthew 1:16; 26:36; John 4:5; 11:54; 15:15; Revelation 2:2 , RV, "call themselves," etc. See ASK.

epi, "upon," and No. 9, signifies "to call in addition," i.e., by another name besides that already intimated, John 5:2; for its other meaning in Acts 15:40 , see CHOOSE.

occasionally means "to be called or named," Acts 11:26 (of the name "Christians") and Romans 7:3 , the only places where it has this meaning. Its primary significance, "to have business dealings with," led to this. They "were (publicly) called" Christians, because this was their chief business. See ADMONISH , REVEAL , SPEAK , WARN.

"to say, speak," means "to cally by a certain appellation," John 10:35 . See BID , No. 3.

"to judge," is translated "to call in question," in Acts 23:6; 24:21 .

Notes: (1) For onoma, "a name," translated "called," AV, in Luke 24:13 , Acts 10:1 , onomazo, "to name," translated "called," AV, 1 Corinthians 5:11 , and eponomazo, "to surname," translated "art called," Romans 2:17 , see NAME and SURNAME.

(2) Lego, "to say," is rendered "calleth" in 1 Corinthians 12:3 , AV, which the RV corrects to "saith;" what is meant is not calling Christ "Anathema," but making use of the phrase "Anathema Jesus," i.e., "Jesus is accursed."

(3) Prosagoreuo, Hebrews 5:10 , means "to be named." See NAME.

(4) Metapempo, rendered "call for," in Acts 10:5 , AV, and Acts 11:13 , signifies "to fetch," RV. See FETCH , SEND , No. 9.

(5) Sunathroizo, "to assemble," is translated "he called together," in the AV of Acts 19:25; RV, "he gathered together."

(6) Lambano, "to take or receive," is found with the noun hupomnesis, "remembrance," in 2 Timothy 1:5; RV, "having been reminded" (lit., "having received remembrance"), for AV, "when I call to remembrance."

(7) In Acts 10:15; 11:9 koinoo, "to make common" (RV) is translated "call common" in the AV.

(8) For prosphoneo, "to call unto," See SPEAK , No. 12.

"a calling" (akin to A, No. 1), is always used in the NT of that "calling" the origin, nature and destiny of which are heavenly (the idea of invitation being implied); it is used especially of God's invitation to man to accept the benefits of salvation, Romans 11:29; 1 Corinthians 1:26; 7:20 (said there of the condition in which the "calling" finds one); Ephesians 1:18 , "His calling;" Philippians 3:14 , the "high calling;" 2 Thessalonians 1:11; 2 Peter 1:10 , "your calling;" 2 Timothy 1:9 , a "holy calling;" Hebrews 3:1 , a "heavenly calling;" Ephesians 4:1 , "the calling wherewith ye were called;" 4:4, "in one hope of your calling." See VOCATION.

"called, invited," is used, (a) "of the call of the Gospel," Matthew 20:16; 22:14 , not there "an effectual call," as in the Epistles, Romans 1:1,6,7; 8:28; 1 Corinthians 1:2,24; Jude 1:1; Revelation 17:14; in Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2 the meaning is "saints by calling;" (b) of "an appointment to apostleship," Romans 1:1; 1 Corinthians 1:1 .