Periodical Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 06:1 (Spring 1993)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Periodical Reviews

“The Disappearing Disciple: Why Is the Use of ‘Disciple’ Limited to the Gospels and Acts?,” Lawrence O. Richards, Evangelical Journal 10, 1992, pp. 3–11.

Students of the Bible have long observed that the term disciple is absent from the NT epistles. Richards, a well-known author and former teacher at Wheaton Graduate School, offers a novel and fresh explanation for the missing term. However, his solution itself is not without problems.

Richards explains that the early church rejected the use of the term disciple as it left Judaism to form a new and separate faith. He claims that rejection of discipleship as a model for Christian growth had its origin in Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees. They reproduced themselves in disciples who were equally full of pride and externalism because their system promoted religious elitism. However, Jesus’ system of discipleship is unique because He is the Word Incarnate.

Richards goes so far as to argue that Jesus explicitly rejects the Judaistic model of discipleship. He cites two passages. In Matt 23:9–12 Jesus taught that no one should be called “Rabbi” or “Teacher” except Himself because “the greatest among you will be your servant.” Also, in Matt 20:25–28 Jesus forbade a leadership style that lords it over people.

The NT church, Richards contends, rejected the elitist model of Judaistic discipleship in favor of a model of shepherding and nurture. So, he says, must the Church today.

Though Richards’s argument is interesting as a fresh approach, it is fraught with weaknesses. First, Richards has an unrealistic view of authority in the Church. Authority will always be recognized in the Church, whether formally or informally. One who is gifted or has advanced training, experience, age, or maturity will usually be looked upon as an authority figure and expected to mentor or share his knowledge with others in a local assembly.

Second, the discipleship process does not necessarily have to take on an authoritarian structure or air as it did with the Jews. Discipleship can be achieved, and achieved better, using a servant model of leadership. The error with the Pharisaic model was not the structure as much as the underlying spiritual values which inevitably produced legalism,

externalism, and pride instead of spirituality, servanthood, and humility. Richards has thrown the proverbial baby out with the bath water.

Third, the epistles do assume a model of leadership (...

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