--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Paul never thought of himself as having…" description: "\"“Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was the other way: God had chosen him. This”\" — Stuart Briscoe" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/stuart-briscoe-25271_paul_paul-never-thought-of-himself-as-having_1957124.png" --- # Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was… ![“Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was the other way: God had chosen him. This” quote by Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/stuart-briscoe-25271_paul_paul-never-thought-of-himself-as-having_1957124.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/stuart-briscoe-25271_paul_paul-never-thought-of-himself-as-having_1957124.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/57b/stuart-briscoe-25271_paul_paul-never-thought-of-himself-as-having_1957124.png) > ““Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was the other way: God had chosen him. This”” [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God's selection of individuals precedes their self‑identification, shaping purpose before personal choice. **In simple terms:** God chooses before we choose ourselves. Key Takeaway Recognize divine purpose in life. Themes faith purpose identity Mood contemplative spiritual Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - life decisions - career paths - spiritual practices - community service Key Concepts theology divine calling spiritual destiny Questions to Reflect On - How does this view affect personal responsibility? - In what ways can you align with perceived purpose? A Different Perspective Interpretations of divine selection vary across traditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chosen God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen-god-1394950/) [God Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-chosen/) [Having Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/having-chosen-3209815/) [Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paul/) [Paul Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paul-thought-1052612/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [“Paul thought of how they'd kept delaying buying plane tickets to visit his parents in Taiwan - in December, which was next month, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/paul-thought-of-how-they-d-kept-delaying-buying-plane-tickets-to/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [To be Christian is to be one of those whom God has chosen. God has chosen black people!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-h-cone/to-be-christian-is-to-be-one-of-those-whom-god-has-chosen-god-has/) [James H. Cone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-h-cone/) > [“It was spring, not winter or autumn, Paul thought with some lingering confusion. He listened to the layered murmur of wind against leaves, familiarly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/it-was-spring-not-winter-or-autumn-paul-thought-with-some-lingering/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [“The late-afternoon sky, in Paul's peripheral vision, panoramic and mostly unobstructed, appeared rural or suburban, more indicative of forests and fields and lakes—of nature's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tao-lin/the-late-afternoon-sky-in-paul-s-peripheral-vision-panoramic-and/) [Tao Lin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tao-lin/) > [There will be no doubt about His having chosen you when you have chosen Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/there-will-be-no-doubt-about-his-having-chosen-you-when-you-have/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Why do the faithful have such a will, to believe in something? And call in the name they choose, having chosen nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-anderson/why-do-the-faithful-have-such-a-will-to-believe-in-something-and-call/) [Ian Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-anderson/) > [“A thrilling sense of having been chosen for something is the best and the only certain thing in one whose glance surveys the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-musil/a-thrilling-sense-of-having-been-chosen-for-something-is-the-best-and/) [Robert Musil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-musil/) > [The important thing to realize is that while we may not escape our own basic pattern, we can work in harmony with it. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-yogananda/the-important-thing-to-realize-is-that-while-we-may-not-escape-our/) [Swami Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-yogananda/) > [We did not happen to be--we were chosen by God to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-angelica/we-did-not-happen-to-be-we-were-chosen-by-god-to-exist/) [Mother Angelica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-angelica/) > [“Yes, he had made a good choice after all when he had chosen the God of the green pasture and the still waters! He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-holm/yes-he-had-made-a-good-choice-after-all-when-he-had-chosen-the-god-of/) [Anne Holm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-holm/) > [“Is this why you think you are chosen by God, because only you can understand the funnies that you make about yourself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/is-this-why-you-think-you-are-chosen-by-god-because-only-you-can/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [“The enemy came to steal,kill and destroy our hero Steve Biko. He was chosen by God and no one can deny that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/the-enemy-came-to-steal-kill-and-destroy-our-hero-steve-biko-he-was/) [Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/) > [I have been chosen by God Almighty to be one of his messengers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/i-have-been-chosen-by-god-almighty-to-be-one-of-his-messengers/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [The artist is chosen by God to fulfill his commands and must never be overwhelmed by public opinion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albrecht-durer/the-artist-is-chosen-by-god-to-fulfill-his-commands-and-must-never-be/) [Albrecht Durer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albrecht-durer/) > [David was the last one we would have chosen to fight the giant, but he was chosen of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-l-moody/david-was-the-last-one-we-would-have-chosen-to-fight-the-giant-but-he/) [Dwight L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-l-moody/) ## More by Stuart Briscoe > [“It is right and proper that Christian men should rejoice in whatever manner they feel is compatible with their experience of Christ and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/it-is-right-and-proper-that-christian-men-should-rejoice-in-whatever/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [If we want to live healthy relationships, according to biblical standards, it is done in the fullness of the Spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/if-we-want-to-live-healthy-relationships-according-to-biblical/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [To believe in God starts with a conclusion about Him, develops into confidence in Him, and then matures into a conversation with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/to-believe-in-god-starts-with-a-conclusion-about-him-develops-into/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“TO READ: Exodus 14:5-31 STAND STILL AND GET MOVING But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand where you are and watch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/to-read-exodus-14-5-31-stand-still-and-get-moving-but-moses-told-the/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > ["Slightly lower than the angels" is a whole lot better than slightly higher than the apes. Let's get the order straight. God, angelic beings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/slightly-lower-than-the-angels-is-a-whole-lot-better-than-slightly/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [If people concentrated on their responsibilities, others would have their rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/if-people-concentrated-on-their-responsibilities-others-would-have/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [The spirit of Christmas needs to superseded by the Spirit of Christ. The spirit of Christmas is annual; the Spirit of Christ is eternal.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/the-spirit-of-christmas-needs-to-superseded-by-the-spirit-of-christ/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [People have a natural tendency to flee to the mountains when things get tough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/people-have-a-natural-tendency-to-flee-to-the-mountains-when-things/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [Qualifications of a pastor: the mind of a scholar, the heart of a child, and the hide of a rhinoceros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/qualifications-of-a-pastor-the-mind-of-a-scholar-the-heart-of-a-child/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [Faith is only as valid as its object. You could have tremendous faith in very thin ice and drown. . . . You could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/faith-is-only-as-valid-as-its-object-you-could-have-tremendous-faith/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Paul also reminds the Roman believers that “we have peace through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Foerster helpfully writes, “The basic feature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/paul-also-reminds-the-roman-believers-that-we-have-peace-through-our/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Grace is God’s stance of giving, loving, blessing. The Greek word for grace (claris) means favor and gift and blessing. In”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/grace-is-god-s-stance-of-giving-loving-blessing-the-greek-word-for/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Holy” in Greek always had in it the idea of difference and separation. The Christian is to be distinctly different—set apart by God for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/holy-in-greek-always-had-in-it-the-idea-of-difference-and-separation/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Thomas Merton asked, “What am I?” and answered, “I am myself a word spoken by God.” How we perceive ourselves, who we think ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/thomas-merton-asked-what-am-i-and-answered-i-am-myself-a-word-spoken/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) > [“Christianity stands or falls on this tenet of the faith. If Christ is risen, he is all he said he was—the Messiah, the Son…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stuart-briscoe/christianity-stands-or-falls-on-this-tenet-of-the-faith-if-christ-is/) [Stuart Briscoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) [Explore all 23 Stuart Briscoe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stuart-briscoe/) ## More Paul quotes > [Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd are really amazing, lovely people and really great comedic actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malin-akerman/jennifer-aniston-and-paul-rudd-are-really-amazing-lovely-people-and/) [Malin Akerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malin-akerman/) > [To play with Russ and Paul George, to be out there with them, I think means a lot for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-schroder/to-play-with-russ-and-paul-george-to-be-out-there-with-them-i-think/) [Dennis Schroder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-schroder/) > [“Richard Dawkins regards faith as an evil to be eliminated; he takes all religious faith to be blind faith. (Dawkins says) ‘Scientific belief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lennox/richard-dawkins-regards-faith-as-an-evil-to-be-eliminated-he-takes/) [John Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lennox/) > [Helen Hunt is terrific, and I got to do a couple of guest spots with Helen and Paul Reiser on 'Mad About You.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyle-lovett/helen-hunt-is-terrific-and-i-got-to-do-a-couple-of-guest-spots-with/) [Lyle Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyle-lovett/) > [I'm not a fan of musicals at all, but I do think 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' is a very good. I always thought 'Walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sangster/i-m-not-a-fan-of-musicals-at-all-but-i-do-think-the-nightmare-before/) [Thomas Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sangster/) > [“Hey girl, I saw the Apostle Paul and he said for you to greet me with a holy kiss.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-pierce/hey-girl-i-saw-the-apostle-paul-and-he-said-for-you-to-greet-me-with/) [Matthew Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-pierce/) > [The world still hasn't seen the best of Sean Paul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-paul/the-world-still-hasn-t-seen-the-best-of-sean-paul/) [Sean Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-paul/) > [Paul Taylor's 'Offenbach Overtures' has lots of zip and charm, and its pair of dueling soldiers in red, who end up starry-eyed about each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-gottlieb/paul-taylor-s-offenbach-overtures-has-lots-of-zip-and-charm-and-its/) [Robert Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-gottlieb/) > [One thing is clear: Ron Paul defies labels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-mckinnon/one-thing-is-clear-ron-paul-defies-labels/) [Mark McKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-mckinnon/) > [The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-scriptures-record-remarkable-accounts-of-men-whose-lives-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [It's easier to be Eric Idle than to be Paul McCartney.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-morton/it-s-easier-to-be-eric-idle-than-to-be-paul-mccartney/) [Timothy Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-morton/) > [I was sent there by the Free Congress Committee, headed by Paul Weyrich. Fred Smith and I were sent down as observers, with reporters'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dixie-lee-ray/i-was-sent-there-by-the-free-congress-committee-headed-by-paul/) [Dixie Lee Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dixie-lee-ray/) > [I think 'Cool Hand Luke' was probably the first movie in which I was aware of the writing as its own separate thing. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-helgeland/i-think-cool-hand-luke-was-probably-the-first-movie-in-which-i-was/) [Brian Helgeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-helgeland/) > [“...the older I get, the more I believe that if love is to be judged by most of its visible effects, it looks more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-believe-that-if-love-is-to-be-judged-by/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [I promised myself: Before your 18th birthday, you're going to be at Jean Paul Gaultier. And it worked. I was hired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-ghesquiere/i-promised-myself-before-your-18th-birthday-you-re-going-to-be-at/) [Nicolas Ghesquiere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-ghesquiere/) [Browse all 583 Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paul/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Paul never thought of himself as having chosen God—it was the other way: God had chosen him. 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