coffee talk, Discipleship

Have you heard people mention the name disciples? Or even categorized or labeled themselves as a disciple?  In the Christian community it is quickly associated with the times of Jesus.

Early New Testament Disciples

The New Testament was originally written in Greek, and the word mathētēs (“disciple,” learner, apprentice) is used almost exclusively in the Gospels and Acts. Notably:

  • The term never appears in Paul’s letters.
  • The term never appears in other epistles (Hebrews, James, Peter, John, Jude).

It seems as though the term disciple faded after Jesus ascended.

The term “disciple” was primarily used in the historical narratives (Gospels, Acts) to describe:

  • Jesus’ earthly followers,
  • learners/apprentices in a Jewish rabbinic framework.

When the apostles start writing letters to churches, the vocabulary shifts—not because they wanted to stop the concept of discipleship, but because the genre and audience were different.

Brothers & Sisters

In reading the New Testament it almost seems like the focus shifts from disciples to just family, specifically, brothers and sisters. Paul uses “brothers and sisters” (adelphoi) over 130 times.

But that word does not mean “students.” It means:

  • members of God’s family,
  • co-heirs in Christ,
  • people equally adopted by the Father.

It describes relationship, not learning posture.

Paul did heavily emphasize the “family of God” as part of his theology of adoption—but this was not at the expense of the idea of discipleship. In fact, Paul still continued to use the concepts of discipleship—just using different words and phrases.

  • “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” (1 Cor 11:1)
  • “Follow our example.” (Phil 3:17)
  • “Entrust these things to faithful people who will be able to teach others also.” (2 Tim 2:2)
  • “Train yourself in godliness.” (1 Tim 4:7)
  • “Walk as Christ walked.” (Rom 6, 8, Gal 5)

These are discipleship instructions even though he doesn’t use the word “disciple.”

Decline in use of Discipleship

Most likely the decline of the use of discipleship in the bible was because of the shift from a narrative-historical description to more of a church teaching focus. The book of Acts is telling a story, so it uses the terms people used during that time period.After the book of the Acts of the Apostles, the contents are directed to specific people and established communities. Typically Paul’s letters were directed to people who had their identify in Christ.

  • the ekklesia (church),
  • the saints,
  • brothers and sisters,
  • co-heirs,
  • participants in Christ.

Paul’s language becomes more theological and communal rather than historical and descriptive.

When Jesus walked the earth, His followers literally followed Him around—like rabbis and disciples. After the resurrection, the mode of following changed.
You don’t “walk behind” Jesus—you live in union with Him. So the vocabulary naturally broadened.

Adoption Focus

Even though Paul never uses the term disciple, does not mean that the concept ever is diminished. He repeatedly uses family references:

  • He calls himself a father to the Corinthian believers (1 Cor 4:15).
  • Timothy is his true child in the faith (1 Tim 1:2).
  • Titus is also his child (Titus 1:4).
  • He says believers “learn Christ” (Eph 4:20).

He didn’t reject leadership or learning relationships—he just used the language of family because it was more theologically central to his message of adoption. This doesn’t deny learning—it places learning into the context of spiritual family, which mirrors ancient Jewish household apprenticeships.

Spiritual Families

It can be a bit distracting or difficult to use the term referred to as families, such as brother, sister, son, father, but the use of “brothers, sisters, family” in the NT is not based on earthly family patterns but on God’s new creation:

  • A family shaped by the Spirit,
  • under a perfect Father,
  • bonded by love.

It’s meant to be redemptive family, not a replication of dysfunctional family models. Many people experience a barrier even attempting to releate to God as father, since their worldly experiences of a physical father were not ideal, and sometimes very repulsive.

Family of God

We are adopted into God’s household as beloved children, equal heirs in Christ, with God as Father.

Highlights:

  • Identity
  • Belonging
  • Love
  • Inheritance
  • Inclusion
  • Relationship

Strengths of this metaphor:

  • Provides people with emotional security in God.
  • Highlights grace—we do not earn family status.
  • Emphasizes mutual care and unity.
  • Counters shame and orphan-mindedness.

Challenges:

  • People with painful family backgrounds may struggle with it.
  • It describes status, not necessarily obedience.