Bible Dictionary
Disciple
A disciple is a learner and committed follower of a teacher. In the New Testament the term especially describes those who believe in Jesus, receive His teaching, follow His example, and confess Him as Lord.
Definition
A disciple is a learner who accepts a teacher’s views and becomes an adherent in practice. The term may describe followers of John the Baptist, the Pharisees, Moses, or, most commonly, Jesus Christ.
Biblical Usage
Christ’s disciples believe His teaching, rely on His sacrifice, receive His spirit, imitate His example, and confess Him as Messiah. The term may refer broadly to Christ’s followers or particularly to the Twelve. In Acts, disciples are those known as Christians.
Historical Background
The term means “learner” or “scholar.” The related verb means to make or become a disciple. The Old Testament lacks the exact term and idea, though it distinguishes teachers from learners in certain settings.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
A scholar, sometimes applied to the followers of John the Baptist (Matt. 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 (Matt. 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
[APOSTLES]
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>di-si'-p'-l:</p><p>(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).</p><p>(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."</p><p>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).</p><p>G. H. Trever</p>