Disciple

Disciple - (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt. 9:14), and of the Pharisees (22:16), but principally to the followers of Christ. A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69).

Disciple - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

DISCIPLE, n. [L., to learn.]

1. A learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another; as the disciples of Plato.

2. A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called his disciples; and hence all Christians are called his disciples, as they profess to learn and receive his doctrines and precepts.

DISCIPLE, v.t.

1. To teach; to train, or bring up.

2. To make disciples of; to convert to doctrines or principles.

This authority he employed in sending missionaries to disciple all nations.

3. To punish; to discipline. [Not in use.]

di-si'-p'-l:

(1) Usually a substantive (mathetes, "a learner," from manthano, "to learn"; Latin discipulus, "a scholar"): The word is found in the Bible only in the Gospels and Acts. But it is good Greek, in use from Herodotus down, and always means the pupil of someone, in contrast to the master or teacher (didaskalos). See Mt 10:24; Lu 6:40. In all cases it implies that the person not only accepts the views of the teacher, but that he is also in practice an adherent. The word has several applications. In the widest sense it refers to those who accept the teachings of anyone, not only in belief but in life. Thus the disciples of John the Baptist (Mt 9:14; Lu 7:18; Joh 3:25); also of the Pharisees (Mt 22:16; Mr 2:18; Lu 5:33); of Moses (Joh 9:28). But its most common use is to designate the adherents of Jesus. (a) In the widest sense (Mt 10:42; Lu 6:17; Joh 6:66, and often). It is the only name for Christ's followers in the Gospels. But (b) especially the Twelve Apostles, even when they are called simply the disciples (Mt 10:1; 11:1; 12:1, et al.). In the Acts, after the death and ascension of Jesus, disciples are those who confess Him as the Messiah, Christians (Ac 6:1,2,7; 9:36 (feminine, mathetria); Ac 11:26, "The disciples were called Christians"). Even half-instructed believers who had been baptized only with the baptism of John are disciples (Ac 19:1-4).

(2) We have also the verb, matheteuo, "Jesus' disciple" (literally, "was discipled to Jesus," Mt 27:57); "Make disciples of all the nations" (the King James Version "teach," Mt 28:19); "had made many disciples" (the King James Version "taught many," Ac 14:21); "every scribe who hath been made a disciple to the kingdom of heaven" (the King James Version "instructed," Mt 13:52). The disciple of Christ today may be described in the words of Farrar, as "one who believes His doctrines, rests upon His sacrifice, imbibes His spirit, and imitates His example."

The Old Testament has neither the term nor the exact idea, though there is a difference between teacher and scholar among David's singers (1Ch 25:8), and among the prophetic guilds the distinction between the rank and file and the leader (1Sa 19:20; 2Ki 6:5).

G. H. Trever

Definition

The term “disciple” refers to a person who spends much time with a teacher, learning from that teacher’s character and teaching.

• The people who followed Jesus around, listening to his teachings and obeying them, were called his “disciples.”
• John the Baptist also had disciples.
• During Jesus’ ministry, there were many disciples who followed him and heard his teachings.
• Jesus chose twelve disciples to be his closest followers; these men became known as his “apostles.”
• Jesus’ twelve apostles continued to be known as his “disciples” or “the 12.”
• Just before Jesus went up to heaven, he commanded his disciples to teach other people about how to become Jesus’ disciples, too.
• Anyone who believes in Jesus and obeys his teachings is called a disciple of Jesus.

Translation Suggestions

• The term “disciple” could be translated by a word or phrase that means “follower” or “student” or “pupil” or “learner.”
• Make sure that the translation of this term does not refer only to a student who learns in a classroom.
• The translation of this term should also be different from the translation of “apostle.”

(See also: apostle, believe, Jesus, John (the Baptist), the twelve)

Bible References

• Acts 6:1
• Acts 9:26-27
• Acts 11:26
• Acts 14:22
• John 13:23
• Luke 6:40
• Matthew 11:3
• Matthew 26:33-35
• Matthew 27:64

Examples from the Bible stories

• __30:8 He (Jesus) gave the pieces to his disciples to give to the people. The disciples__ kept passing out the food, and it never ran out!
• __38:1 About three years after Jesus first began preaching and teaching publicly, Jesus told his disciples__ that he wanted to celebrate this Passover with them in Jerusalem, and that he would be killed there.
• __38:11 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples__ to pray that they would not enter into temptation.
• __42:10 Jesus said to his disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. So go, make disciples__ of all people groups by baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

Word Data

• Strong’s: H3928, G31000, G31010, G31020