Introduction
Every since John Abrahamse's sermon on discipleship, I have been spurred on to do a word study on the word, "Disciple", which is the word used by most translators of the New Testament to translate "μαθητής". When I looked up the word "disciple" in my concordance and theological dictionary, I found that it only occurs in the Gospels and Acts. It is found no where in the epistles. Since the gospels were written after most of the epistles, I found that fact curious. I decided to look the definition of "μαθητής" in my Kittel's Theological Dictionary of New Testament Words. Here are a few snippets:The usage is from the very first characterized by the fact, that, apart from a few exceptions, μαθητής denotes the men who have attached themselves to Jesus as their Master.
(p.441 Vol. IV)
In the NT (New Testament) μαθητής occurs only in the Gospels and Acts. (p.441 Vol. IV)
"μαθητής always implies the existence of a personal attachment which shapes the whole life of the one described as μαθητής, and which in its particularity leaves no doubt to who is deploying the formative power."
(p.441 Vol. IV)
The verses that use the singular form of the word, "Disciple" are listed below. These are the verses that describe the characteristics of a disciple or define the word "disciple." The plural form usually denoted the followers of Christ as a group, but I added a few selected verses where Christ was using the plural form but obviously was defining discipleship.
Observations
Disciples of Jesus would be characterized by- renouncing all they have;
- living sacrificially;
- being like Jesus in a significant way and thus will be persecuted by the world;
- being chosen by Jesus;
- serving one another;
- being known by their love for one another;
- abiding in his word;
- praying with confidence;
- proving their discipleship by producing fruit and that activity will glorify the father.
Summary
The term "disciple" in the New Testament is restricted largely to those who had a personal relationship with Jesus. The most noteworthy exception being the command, "making disciples of all nations" in Matthew 28. In interpreting this verse, we have to account for why the epistles do not use the term disciple, but use terms like:- brothers and sisters,
- the elect,
- believers,
- fellow heirs,
- stranger and aliens,
- priests,
- and saints.
In taking all these points into account, I think discipleship is subsumed into the paradigm of the Church. We who are believers in the church age have a deeper and richer relationship with Christ than being a disciple. Christ hinted that the relationship between Him and the disciples was deepening in John 15:15, where Christ asserted that he no longer called them "servants", but "friends." Believers are still to count the cost, live sacrificially, serve one another, love one another, abide in his word, pray with confidence, and obediently strive to make disciples of all nations. However, our growth into mature believers involves the church as a whole body so as to make "the body grow so that it builds itself up in love" (Eph. 4:16). Our maturity in Christ is part and parcel with the maturity of the Church. We are to help other believers grow as they help us grow.
"Making disciples of all nations" has to mean more than one-on-one discipleship. The 4-chair illustration has its place, especially in training up leaders (2 Timothy 2:2). It can be used as a diagnostic tool on our walk with Christ. However, discipleship needs to take place in the body of Christ through formal teaching, small groups, one-on-one ministries and personal spiritual disciplines.
Scripture
Matthew 10:24-25
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household.
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Matthew 28:16-20
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 8:31-38
And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Luke 6:39-40
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Luke 9:23-27
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
Luke 14:25-33
Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
John 6:64-71
But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him.
John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 13:12-16
When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 15:12-17
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
John 15:7-8
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Acts 11:26
and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
