1. a calling, calling to ((Xenophon, Plato, others)).

2. a call, invitation: to a feast (3Macc. 5:14; Xenophon, symp. 1, 7); in the N. T. everywhere in a technical sense, the divine invitation to embrace salvation in the kingdom of God, which is made especially through the preaching of the gospel: with the genitive of the author, τοῦ Θεοῦ, Ephesians 1:18; ἀμεταμέλητα ... ἡ κλῆσις τοῦ Θεοῦ, God does not repent of the invitation to salvation, which he decided of old to give to the people of Israel, and which he promised their fathers (i. e. the patriarchs), Romans 11:29; ἡ ἄνω (which see (a.)) κλῆσις τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐν Χριστῷ, which was made in heaven by God on the ground of Christ, Philippians 3:14; also ἡ ἐπουράνιος κλῆσις, Hebrews 3:1; καλεῖν τινα κλήσει, 2 Timothy 1:9; passive Ephesians 4:1; ἀξιουν τινα κλήσεως is used of one whom God declares worthy of the calling which he has commanded to be given him, and therefore fit to obtain the blessings promised in the call, 2 Thessalonians 1:11; with the genitive of the object, ὑμῶν, which ye have shared in, Ephesians 4:4; 2 Peter 1:10; what its characteristics have been in your case, as having no regard to learning, riches, station, etc. 1 Corinthians 1:26; used somewhat peculiarly, of the condition in which the calling finds one, whether circumcised or uncircumcised, slave or freeman, 1 Corinthians 7:20.