The New Testament

While the word disciple (Gk. mathētēs) is used 261 times in the New Testament, it is found only in the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles (the sequel to Luke’ s Gospel). It occurs exactly zero times in the remainder of the New Testament. Therefore, the only sections of the Scriptures in which the Greek word for disciple is used in a way relevant to our study are the Gospels and Acts.2

The substantial presence of the word disciple in just these books suggests that the concept of discipleship is of great importance for Jesus and the evangelists, and that it has some particular connection with the historical ministry of Jesus that, of course, overflows into the ministry of the Church. But what exactly was meant by this word disciple and, more important, this concept of discipleship? The words of Bible scholar Father John Meier are helpful:

As we begin our quest for an adequate definition, we need to remind ourselves that the religious rhetoric of modern Christianity often leads us to use the word “disciple” quite loosely. The drive to be relevant pushes pulpit oratory and theological musings to employ the word “disciple” in as many meanings or in as broad a sense as possible . . . Perhaps some might prefer to stick with their intuition. They would simply take for granted that, since the basic meaning of mathētēs is “learner” or “student,” a disciple of Jesus was anyone who listened to and learned the teachings of rabbi Jesus as one of his students. But the Gospels’ picture of Jesus ’ disciples is not so simple.3

2. While it stands to reason that the New Testament concept of discipleship is informed by its Old Testament antecedents mentioned above, the vast usage of the concept and its circumscription into the single term μαθητής (mathētēs, “disciple”) within the Jesus movement indicates the centrality of the concept of discipleship for Jesus and His followers beyond the emphasis given to it in its Old Testament antecedents. 3. A Marginal Jew, 3:49–50.