Dictionaries :: Disciple

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Disciple:

a scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Mat 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 (Mat 10:24; Luk 14:26,27,33; Jhn 6:69).

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Disciple:

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).

Written by George Henry Trever

Nave's Topical Bible

Disciple: Definition Of

A name given to the followers of any teacher

Disciple: Of John the Baptist

Mat 9:14

Disciple: Of Jesus

Mat 10:1; 20:17; Act 9:26; 14:2; 21:4

Disciple: The Seventy Sent Forth

Luk 10:1

Disciple: First Called Christians at Antioch

Act 11:26

Disciple: References Concerning

See APOSTLES; RIGHTEOUS.

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

A-1NounStrong's Number: g3101Greek: mathetes

Disciple:

lit., "a learner" (from manthano, "to learn," from a root math--, indicating thought accompanied by endeavor), in contrast to didaskalos, "a teacher;" hence it denotes "one who follows one's teaching," as the "disciples" of John, Mat 9:14; of the Pharisees, Mat 22:16; of Moses, Jhn 9:28; it is used of the "disciples" of Jesus

(a) in a wide sense, of Jews who became His adherents, Jhn 6:66; Luk 6:17, some being secretly so, Jhn 19:38;

(b) especially of the twelve Apostles, Mat 10:1; Luk 22:11, e.g.;

(c) of all who manifest that they are His "disciples" by abiding in His Word, Jhn 8:31; cp. Jhn 13:35; 15:8;

(d) in the Acts, of those who believed upon Him and confessed Him, Jhn 6:1, 2, 7; 14:20, 22, 28; 15:10; 19:1, etc.

A "disciple" was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher; cp. Jhn 8:31; 15:8.

A-2NounStrong's Number: g3102Greek: mathetria

Disciple:

"a female disciple," is said of Tabitha, Act 9:36.

A-3NounStrong's Number: g4827Greek: summathetes

Disciple:

means "a fellow-disciple" (sun, with, and No. 1), Jhn 11:16.

Note: In Act 1:15, the RV translates the mss. which have adelphon, "brethren;" in 20:7, RV, "we," for AV, "disciples."

B-1VerbStrong's Number: g3100Greek: matheteuo

Disciple:

is used in the Active Voice, intransitively, in some mss., in Mat 27:57, in the sense of being the "disciple" of a person; here, however, the best mss. have the Passive Voice, lit., "had been made a disciple," as in Mat 13:52, RV, "who hath been made a disciple." It is used in this transitive sense in the Active Voice in Mat 28:19; Act 14:21.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Disciple:

SEE [APOSTLE].