Discipleship
Arguments Against Discipleship 1. Discipleship or Discipling is not a biblical term. 2. Paul was taught by no man or who discipled Paul? Galatians 3. The term only applied to the 12. 4. Men will not teach their neighbor. Hebrews 8:11
Citizenship In God s Kingdom Hebrews 8:10-11 (NASB) For this is the covenant that i will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, And I will write them on their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be my people. And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen And everyone his brother, saying, know the Lord, For all will know me, From the least to the greatest of them.
Definitions Disciple History & Meaning Was in use in ancient Greek culture. Socrates parallels with the Jesus model. 399BC Before Socrates The Sophist Model the definition of μαθητὴς (disciple) would have been, One who pursued knowledge or skill from an expert. Knowledge equips you The Socrates Model Become competent and virtuous by following and taking on the nature of an expert in truth. Truth & Morality equips you Bible s use The primary term for followers of Jesus.
Definitions Teacher Διδάσκαλος (Teacher) The didaskalos is the expert the disciple imitates or assimilates with. Connections Just as Parent & Child have a connection that can t be separated so it is with Teacher & Disciple
Nouns, Verbs, Roots & Suffixes 1. Disciple the noun Found in the Bible 2. Disciple the verb Found in the Bible Roots & Suffixes Words take on many forms Lecturer, lecture, lectured, lecturing, lectureship Disciple(n.), disciple(v.), discipler(n.), discipling(v.), discipleship(n.), discipled(pp) The word parenting or parenthood does not appear in the bible, but no one would say that the Bible doesn t speak about parenting. The word Eldership doesn t appear either, no one could argue that the Bible doesn t layout clear expectations for the election and conduct of the eldership in the church.
Discipleship Expected Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Expected Mt 28:18-20 It is the verb form of disciple that is present in verse 19. Literally to disciple the nations Implication, they were to be the teachers It was not something that man came up with μαθητεύσατε 1828 American dictionary recognized the verb disciple (mathēteusate): To teach to train To convert, to make disciples; 'disciple the nations'
Discipleship Expected Mark 1:14-18 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. The time has come, he said. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news! As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him.
Expected Mk 1:14-18 Follow me, is a call to discipleship Follow Me (20 times in the gospels) Come After Me (3); [His] Followers (9) Discipleship is the response to the call of repentance. Fishing for men is a chief fruit of discipleship declaring Christ.
Discipleship Expected Luke 9:59-62 He said to another man, Follow me. But the man replied, Lord, first let me go and bury my father. Jesus said to him, Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God. Still another said, I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family. Jesus replied, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. The same call to discipleship was given to the crowds; Luke 14:25-36.
Discipleship Expected John 13:13-16 You call Me Teacher and Lord; and you are right, for so I am. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is one who is sent greater than the one who sent him?
Expected John 13:13-16 Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary defines 'Example': 1. A pattern; a copy; a mode; that which is proposed to be imitated. This word, when applied to material things, is now generally written sample, as a sample of cloth; but example is sometimes used. His second definition is very similar and actually uses John 13 as an example.
Expected John 13:13-16 Jesus was not merely a sample of God's glory, nor merely a savior, but an example for us to imitate the model of our conduct and thinking. Jesus, as the didaskalos set them an example to follow. That they should be a teacher just like him humble. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Discipleship Practiced Paul s Example Acts 9 & 17 Acts 9:10-17 God sends a disciple (not one of 12) named Ananias to explain to Paul what he needs to do. (Gal 1) Paul believes, repents and obeys gets baptized. Acts 9:25 Paul immediately takes on the nature of methetes and didaskalos and makes disciples. It is his disciples that come to his aid. Acts 17:34 Became followers of Paul, is implied, the literal translation would be that they glued themselves to *Paul+.
Discipleship Perpetuated Did the early church continue to practice discipleship after the apostles died? Yes, they wrote extensively about discipleship to Jesus and one another.
Discipleship Perpetuated The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians 105-115 AD For whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God; for he has not received the prophecy which speaks thus concerning us: "The people shall be called by a new name, which the Lord shall name them, and shall be a holy people." This was first fulfilled in Syria; for "the disciples were called Christians at Antioch," when Paul and Peter were laying the foundations of the Church. Chapter 10
Discipleship Perpetuated The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus 130-200 AD Taking occasion from Papias of Hierapolis, the illustrious, a disciple of the apostle who leaned on the bosom of Christ Fragments Of Papias, Chapter 9
Discipleship Perpetuated The Martyrdom Of Saint Polycarp 150-160 AD Him we adore as the Son of God; but the martyrs, as the disciples and imitators of the Lord, we love according to their deserts, on account of their incomparable love for their King and Teacher, with whom may it be our lot to be partners and fellow-disciples. Chapter 17
Discipleship Perpetuated The Martyrdom Of Saint Polycarp 150-160 AD These things have been transcribed by Gaius, from the manuscripts of Irenaeus, the disciple of Polycarp, who also was a fellow-citizen to Irenaeus. But I, Socrates, made a copy in Corinth from the copies of Gaius. Grace be with you all. Chapter 22
Discipleship Perpetuated The Lost Writings Of Justin 150-160 AD The unskillfulness of the teacher proves destructive to his disciples, and the carelessness of the disciples entails danger on the teacher, and especially should they owe their negligence to his want of knowledge. Chapter 8
Discipleship Perpetuated Justin Martyr The Second Apology Of Justin 150-160 AD Urbicus, he was asked this one question only: whether he was a Christian? And again, being conscious of his duty, and the nobility of it through the teaching of Christ, he confessed his discipleship in the divine virtue. Chapter 2
Discipleship Perpetuated Irenaeus of Lyons 175-185 AD The Church, though dispersed through our the whole world, even to the ends of the earth, has received from the apostles and their disciples this faith: Book 1 Chapter 10
Discipleship Perpetuated Irenaeus of Lyons 175-185 AD Simon the Samaritan was that magician of whom Luke, the disciple and follower of the apostles, says Book 1 Chapter 23 After their departure, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, did also hand down to us in writing what had been preached by Peter. Book 3 Chapter1
Discipleship Perpetuated Irenaeus of Lyons 175-185 AD and the Lord Himself handing down to His disciples, that He, the Father, is the only God and Lord, who alone is God and ruler of all;-it is incumbent on us to follow, if we are their disciples indeed, their testimonies to this effect. Book 3 Chapter 9
Discipleship Perpetuated Irenaeus of Lyons 175-185 AD But that both the apostles and their disciples thus taught as the Church preaches, and thus teaching were perfected, wherefore also they were called away to that which is perfect Book 3 Chapter 12
Discipleship Perpetuated Irenaeus of Lyons 175-185 AD As I have heard from a certain presbyter, who had heard it from those who had seen the apostles, and from those who had been their disciples... Book 4 Chapter 27
Discipleship Perpetuated Tertullian 197-220 AD For even Luke's form of the Gospel men unsually ascribe to Paul. And it may well seem that the works which disciples publish belong to their masters... But how comes it to pass, if the apostles published nothing, that their disciples were more forward in such a work; for they could not have been disciples, without any instruction from their masters? Book 4 Chapter 5
Discipleship Perpetuated Tertullian 197-220 AD Then, again, there is Paul, who was at once both a disciple, and a master, and a witness of the selfsame Gospel; as an apostle of the same Christ Chapter 12
Discipleship Perpetuated Tertullian 197-220 AD To all these heretics is added one Tatian, a brother-heretic. This man was Justin Martyr's disciple. After Justin's death he began to cherish different opinions from his. Appendix, Chapter 7
Discipleship Jesus gospel calls us to discipleship The early church practiced and perpetuated discipleship It is about Jesus he set the example humility