A Biblical View of Discipleship -- By: James G. Samra

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 160:638 (Apr 2003)
Article: A Biblical View of Discipleship
Author: James G. Samra


A Biblical View of Discipleship

James G. Samra

Many churches today are interested in “doing discipleship.” Yet there seems to be confusion on what constitutes discipleship and on what the word “disciple” means. This study seeks to address this important issue in order to help readers better understand the biblical concept of discipleship and see how believers can become better disciples of Christ.

This study addresses three questions: What is discipleship? How is discipleship accomplished? What is involved in prompting discipleship? Answers to these questions will be pursued by considering several Bible passages and several biblical examples of discipleship.

What Is Discipleship?

Is discipleship a matter of becoming a disciple? Or is it the process of being a disciple? Is it the process of being educated by a teacher? Is it the process of becoming like a master? Is it a process for everyone or just a select few?

There are three reasons for this confusion. First, the word “disciple” (μαθητῆς) and its related verbal form (μαθητεύω) sometimes have an educational, intellectual sense (Matt. 10:24; 13:52), in which case “discipleship” is simply the process of being educated by a teacher. At other times (and more frequently) discipleship seems to involve life transformation (16:24; Mark 8:34; cf. 1:17–18), in which case discipleship is seen as the process of becoming like one’s master. Second, at times the focus is on the beginning of the process (Matt. 27:57; Acts 14:21), in which case discipleship is becoming a disciple. At other times (and more frequently) the focus is on being a disciple (Luke 14:26–27), in which case discipleship is the process of becoming like one’s master. Third, there are different referents for the word “disciple.” Sometimes the word speaks of

those who occasionally followed Christ (Matt. 8:21).1 In this case discipleship was a process whereby the masses learned more about Christ. Sometimes the word “disciple” is used of those select few who were being trained to be leaders of the church (17:1...

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