For the Elect's Sake

The Apostle Paul in II Timothy 2:10 said, "I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."

Paul was exhorting his son in the ministry, Timothy, to be willing to suffer any hardness to be a good minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul did not exhort that which he was unwilling to do. He was willing to endure any hardship in order to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to His elect people.

This can not be speaking of the Jews, for Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul knew that before the world ever began, God chose out for Himself from among all the nations of the earth, a people for His praise, the elect (see Ephesians 1:1-10).

Paul went everywhere preaching the gospel and calling on all men everywhere to repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but with the sure knowledge that in every place, there would be some hearts prepared by God to receive his message.

And, so it is said in Acts 13:48, that, "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed."

Men are not chosen of God because they believe, but they believe because they were chosen by God. To God alone be the glory!

II Thes 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.