The Discipleship Conundrum

Problem statement

A recent conversation with a Christian friend raised an interesting Bible question. He is writing his Ph.D. thesis on the topic of “discipleship” and has poured over many books on the subject and passages of scripture and noted that although the word disciple/s appears hundreds of times in the New Testament, it disappears from use after Acts 21:16. The apostles Paul, Peter, James, Jude and John never address anyone by this term in the letters to local churches or individuals. On top of this he mentioned that none of the authors he read mentioned this point. This essay will be an attempt to present some possible reasons for this.

What is Discipleship and How Did it Function in the New Testament

Looking up the word “disciple/s” in the Blue Letter Bible confirmed my friend’s observation. While occurring 242 times in the 1995 New American Standard Bible its final occurrence is in Acts 21:16 where we read “Some of the disciples from Caesarea also came with us, taking us to Mnason of Cyprus, a disciple of long standing with whom we were to lodge.” Strong’s dictionary points out that the word “disciple” comes from the Greek mathētḗs (μαθητής); a learner, i.e. pupil: — disciple.[1]

The online Wickipedia entry for disciples states that:

In the world of the Bible, a disciple was a person who followed a teacher, or rabbi, or master, or philosopher. The disciple desired to learn not only the teaching of the rabbi, but to imitate the practical details of their life. A disciple did not merely attend lectures or read books, they were required to interact with and imitate a real living person. A disciple would literally follow someone in hopes of eventually becoming what they are.[2]

While we can certainly “follow” Jesus in terms of his teaching and actions we simply cannot “imitate the practical details” of his day-to-day life.

I am intrigued by this definition as I was recently introduced to an interesting church discipleship program that encourages Christians to become “apprentices of Jesus.” It does this through a series of videos, a book, and small group study and interaction. The approach initially made sense since Jesus himself told his disciples to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations,” (Matthew 28:19), but it left me uneasy in that it focused so strongly on this “apprentice” concept. In addition, I recalled Paul’s reaction to the believers in I Corinthians 1:11-14 when he says

For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius

A first reading this text sure sounds like the members of the church at Corinth may have considered themselves as “apprentices” to various the apostles and even Jesus. The above words from the apostle Paul should discourage any tendencies in the Church to apply the concept of apprenticeship to any individual in the Bible, including Jesus. After all, we simply cannot follow him around on a daily basis, to learn who he/she is. Our relationship comes via the written word (the gospels) produced by those who did walk with Jesus. Which leaves open the question that if apprenticeship to Jesus or an apostle was not the point, what was the pattern for life in the early church. For this we turn to an analysis of identifying words or phrases used by the apostles to address followers of Jesus.

Descriptive Words for Followers of Christ in Acts[i]
Description	Occurrences
disciples	18 - Acts 6:1, 7; 9:1, 10, 19, 25, 26, 36, 38; 13:52; 14:20, 21, 22, 28; 19:1; 20:1; 21:4; 21:16
“church” “churches”	9 - Acts 5:22; 8:1; 12:5; 13:1; 14:27; 15:4; 16:5; 18:22; 20:28
“brethren”	9 – Acts 11:1; 15:23, 36; 16:2, 40; 17:10; 18:18; 21:7, 17
“those who believed / believers in the Lord”	2 -Acts 4:32, 44; Acts 5:14
“Christians”	2 – Acts 11:26; 26:28
“those who had received his word”	1 - Acts 2:41
“those who are sanctified”	2 – Acts 20:32; 26:18
“congregation”	1 – Acts 15:30
“saints”	1 – Acts 26:10
Descriptive Words for Followers of Christ in Letters by the Apostle Paul and Others
brethren	65 – Romans 16:14, 17; I Corin. 2:1; 6:5; 7:29; 10:1; 11:33; 14:20, 26; 15:1, 50, 58; 16:12, 15, 20; II Corin. 1:8; 8:1, 23; 9:5; Galatians 1:1, 11; 3:15; 4:28, 31; 5:13, 18; Phil. 1:12, 14; 3:1, 17; 4:1, 8, 21; I Thess. 1:4; 2:1; 2:14; 4:1, 9, 10, 13; 5:1, 4, 12, 25; II Thess. 2:1, 13, 15: 3:1, 13; Hebrews 1:11; 2:17; 3;1, 12; James 1:2; 16, 19; 2:1, 5, 14; 3:1, 12; 4:11; 5:7, 9, 10, 12
beloved/beloved children	21 – Romans 16:8; I Corin. 4:14; 10:14; Ephe. 5:1; Phil. 2:12; 4:1,8, 21; Colo. 4:7; Hebrews 6:9; I John 2:7; 3:2, 21; 4:1, 7; I Peter 4:12; II Peter 1:10; 3:1; Jude 3, 17, 20; III John 5
saints	17 – Romans 1:27; 8:27; 16:2, 15; I Corin. 1:2; II Corin. 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; 3:18; 4:11; 5:3; Phil. 1:1; 4:21-22; Colo. 1:2, 4; 4:15; I Thess. 3:13; II Thess. 1:10; Philemon 1:7
Church/churches	6 – Romans 16:4-5, 16, 23; Gala. 1:2; Colo. 1:18; II Thess. 1:1;
little children/children	6 – I John 2:1, 18, 28; 3:7, 18; 5:21
believers/all who have believed	4 – I Thess. 1:7; 2:10; I Tim. 5:16; 6:2
the called	3 – Romans 1:6; I Corin. 1:24, 26;
church of God	3 – I Corin. 1:2; 15:9; II Corin. 1:1
children of God	3 – Romans 8:16; Phil. 2:15; Titus 1:1
temple of God	2 – I Corin. 3:16; II Corin. 6:16;
those sanctified	1 – I Corin. 1:2
God’s field	1 – I Corin. 3:9
God’s building	1 – I Corin. 3:9
members of Christ	1 – I Corin. 6:15
children of light	1 – Ephesians 5:8
aliens/strangers	1 – I Peter 1:1; 2:11
a chosen race	1 – I Peter 2:9
a royal priesthood	1 – I Peter 2:9
a holy nation	1 – I Peter 2:9
people for God’s own possession	1 – I Peter 2:9
brethren	1 – I John 3:13
called	1 – Jude 1
disciple/s	0

To reiterate my earlier point, once we get out of the book of Acts the word “disciple” is never used again to describe followers of Jesus. Instead, the words “brethren”, “beloved”, “beloved children” and even “saints” were most frequently used. From this usage it would seem that the metaphor for maturing in the Christian life shifted early from the concept of apprenticeship to a single person to that of family relationships. That is, to the relationships within the “body of Christ”. What the early Church looked like might be best seen by what happened following Peter’s first sermon in Acts 2:41-47

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

This observation leads me to think that the modus operandi for the life of the early church is found in the passages that talk about this body and the gifts given by God to its individual members to serve the others in the body.

Romans 12:3-8

This passage is an early introduction to this concept of the body of Christ and the gifts given to it.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Let love be without hypocrisy. (underlines added)

Allow me to make a few observations:

• Every believer in the Church has a “function”, that is a unique role to play in the operation of the body of Christ.

• Although we are many members, we are still “one body”.

• We have to apply ourselves to practicing our gift within the context of the body.

• There are no genders assigned to any of the gifts.

• The final goal is to “Let love be without hypocrisy.” This is not about me, but others.

I Corinthians 12:4-31

This passage is loaded with meaning, but I would like to focus on just a few. My observations are highlighted in the text below followed by some observations.

⁴ Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. ⁸ For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, ¹⁰ and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

¹² For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not one member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. ¹⁹ If they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now there are many members, but one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; ²³ and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, ²⁴ whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, ²⁵ so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

²⁷ Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. ²⁸ And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? ³⁰ All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? ³¹ But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.

^13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

• The body of Christ is DIVERSE: “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. ⁶ There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. ⁷ But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” 

• The body of Christ is INCLUSIVE:“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”

• The body of Christ is EQUITABLE in practice:“On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;”

• There are no genders assigned to any of the gifts.

• And once again the final goal of all of the gifts is LOVE.

A lot is being currently made in conservative religious circles about the secular concept of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. It is often referred to as a left wing, radical and liberal philosophy to be resisted and condemned. Rather than being distressed by it I believe the Church should recognize that by God’s design the Church is already one of the most diverse, inclusive and equitable groups in culture and support any efforts to extend this value to others. This is the epitome of “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ephesians 4:7-16

The last passage to consider adds more gifts to our list as well and re-affirming the goal of these gifts.

⁷ But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸ Therefore it says,

“When He ascended on high,He led captive a host of captives,And He gave gifts to men.”

⁹ (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰ He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) ¹¹ And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. ¹⁴ As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Once again, a few observations:

• These “equipping” gifts are intended to bring the body to maturity and spiritual stability.

• Again, there are no genders assigned to any of the gifts.

• The ultimate goal of the gifts is “the building up of itself in love.”

Some overall conclusions:

• None of these spiritual gifts are called out as being gender specific. That should make a strong case against insisting on who can have and exercise any particular gift, nor the context in which it is exercised. As we read in I Corinthians 12:11 “the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”

• All of the gifts have the ultimate twin goals of growth/learning for individual members of the body and a more expansive love for all other members.

• I think Jesus knew his followers would be quick to split into special interest groups after his death and that this is why in his final gathering with his disciples’ he reminded them that “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you … This I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:12, 17).

The fact that phrases related to “family” are so often used in the letters of the various apostles to address believers in each community leads me to think that this may have been what Jesus had in mind when he talked about “making disciples.” The truth is that we are a FAMILY. Like any other human family we may find some more agreeable than others, but all are related by one thing: the blood of Christ. This is also true of the Church of Jesus Christ … we are made one family by the blood of Jesus shed on our behalf.

This whole way of thinking is truly new to me so I would welcome your observations and comments.

[1] G3101 - mathētēs - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3101/kjv/tr/0-1/

[2]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciple_(Christianity)

[i] “Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org”