DISCIPLE.
A disciple is someone who follows another person or way of life. A disciple submits himself to the discipline or teaching of that leader or way. In the Bible the term "disciple" is almost always found in the Gospels and the book of Acts. A few times in the Old Testament the word is translated "learned" and "taught." Wherever there is a teacher and those taught, the idea of discipleship is present.
In the Gospels the immediate followers of Jesus are called "disciples." The Twelve were called by Jesus' authority from a wide variety of circumstances. But all those who approved of his teaching and were committed to him are called "disciples." The calling of these disciples took place at a time when other teachers had their disciples. Most notable were the Pharisees (Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33) and John the Baptist (Matthew 9:14). John the Baptist's practice shows that different leaders called for different disciplines from their followers. John's way was one of self-denial. However, that teaching involved not only conduct and manner of life, but also a distinctive pattern of praying (Luke 11:1).
The disciples of Jesus had a unique experience. They benefited from the immediate teaching of Jesus, his looks and tones of voice (Mark 10:21) as well as his words. But they also witnessed the unfolding drama of redemption that had Christ as its center. They followed a teacher who was the substance of that teaching. The first disciples could be taught by Christ only little by little. They had a need to understand (Matthew 16:21). But the full significance of what Jesus said and did could not be most fully appreciated until after the events of his crucifixion and Resurrection (Matthew 28:9). This period of "discipling" covered the time before and after Christ's death and resurrection. But it continued on after Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit taught the disciples about matters that they could not "bear" while Jesus remained on earth (John 16:12).
Groups of Jesus' first disciples included both the Twelve and the Seventy (Matthew 26:20; Luke 10:1). They not only received his teaching and taught others in turn (Luke 10:1-11), they were also given power to heal (Matthew 10:1). They were to proclaim the message of salvation through Christ. Yet the Twelve were given a special place. With the exception of Judas Iscariot (whose place was taken by Matthias, Acts 1:26), they became the foundation teachers of the newly emerging Christian church. Their authority in the church, given by Christ (Matthew 16:19; 28:16-20), was to be marked by a unique style of self-giving service (Luke 22:24-30). This group of disciples came to be known as the apostles. This term was later given a wider meaning. For example, Saul of Tarsus was added. He was converted on the road to Damascus. He saw the risen Lord and was immediately commissioned by Christ (Galatians 1:12, 16) as the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15).
At the time of his ascension Christ commissioned the first disciples to "make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19). Hence, the term "disciple" is also used in the book of Acts to describe believers, all those who confess Christ. Naturally, they have not been directly called by Christ himself. But such disciples are called by Christ's Spirit through the message delivered by the first disciples. Disciples called later are not in any sense inferior to the first disciples. It was proper for early Christians to be called disciples of Jesus of Nazareth or simply "the disciples" (Acts 6:1-2, 7; 9:36; 11:26). This is because they were carrying on the teaching of Jesus and following his example. They were thus recognized as a "school" or living community that reflected the teaching of their "master" in practice. The book of 1 John shows that only those who keep Christ's commandments show real love for God (1 John 2:3-6; 3:10-11).
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