klesis denotes a calling, chiefly God’s call that shapes hope and conduct, and once the condition in which a person was called.

The attested use chiefly concerns a calling associated with God and described in relation to hope, holiness, heavenly or upward direction, worthiness, purpose, and steadfastness. One occurrence instead uses the term for the condition in which someone was called.

1. A call associated with God and communal life · dominant

   In Ephesians 4:1, the genitive singular κλήσεως occurs in the appeal to walk worthily of the calling by which the readers were called. The same form is linked with hope in Ephesians 1:18 and Ephesians 4:4, while 2 Timothy 1:9 describes being called with a holy calling according to purpose and grace. In Philippians 3:14 and Hebrews 3:1, the APB renders the surrounding clauses with an “upward calling” and a “heavenly calling.”

   Ephesians 4:1Ephesians 1:18Ephesians 4:42 Timothy 1:9Philippians 3:14Hebrews 3:1
2. The condition in which someone was called · rare

   In 1 Corinthians 7:20, the dative singular κλήσει occurs in the instruction for each person to remain in the condition in which he was called. The APB’s wording presents the term within a directive about continuing in that condition.

   1 Corinthians 7:20

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB commonly presents the surrounding clauses with “calling,” including “holy,” “heavenly,” and “upward” descriptions, and in 1 Corinthians 7:20 it presents a person’s “condition.” These renderings show the verses’ presentation rather than fixed English equivalents for each occurrence.