Last week I wrote about the first word in the Great
Commission, “Going.” The big idea was that we are not commanded to go. Going is assumed. As we are going, we are to do
something!
And that something is - - - Disciple!
It’s a verb. It’s in the imperative, so it’s a command
(that’s why I used the exclamation point)!
Jesus said, “As you are going, disciple!”
Digging deeper: This verb is second person plural. Best
translated:
You (plural) disciple!
You the group disciple!
Y’all disciple!
Yous guys
disciple!
(When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, we usually addressed a group as “Yous guys. J Spell check doesn’t like "Yous" too much, but yous get the point!)
(When I was a kid growing up in Cleveland, we usually addressed a group as “Yous guys. J Spell check doesn’t like "Yous" too much, but yous get the point!)
Fair enough.
But what does it mean to “disciple?” It means to acquire a
custom or habit; to learn or be taught by practice or exposure to something.
It’s from the Greek noun μαθητής (mathetes), “one who learns,”
and means a student or follower. As used in the New Testament, the English “disciple”
reflects the Greek sense of someone who adheres to the teachings of a
particular teacher or school of thought (John 9:28; cf. Matt. 22:16).
The followers of John the Baptist are identified as his disciples
(e.g., Mark 2:18; John 1:35, 37). To a degree, disciples are similar to the
rabbinical talmîḏîm (students), who learned
the Old Testament from a particular teacher.[1]
Our word “discipline” comes from the same Greek root. You
can see it: disciple – discipline. You discipline yourself to learn
something new, like how to throw a curve or how to play piano. So to disciple
someone means to help them learn a discipline; in this case, the discipline of following
Christ – with all that entails.
Don’t miss the connection between discipling and teaching.
To disciple someone means to help them learn. A disciple is a learner, and a
discipler is a teacher. Jesus discipled; Jesus was the Master Teacher. So, to
disciple means to teach (remember this, because we will return to it in a few
weeks!).
And note this well: the Greek command “Disciple!” (μαθητευσατε
[matheteusate]) does not say to make anything. It is not
translated, “make disciples;” it’s translated, Disciple!
Therefore a disciple is not something to be made,
like a batch of cookies. This is not a cookbook commission (combine
these ingredients, bake 12 minutes, and voila!
– a finished product pops out!). And ever since one of my students pointed this
out in class, I have been disciplining myself never to say, “Make disciples.”
Because a disciple is not something you or I can make. Only God can make
a disciple; and Jesus never told us to “make” disciples!
On the other hand, “disciple” (the verb) is something we can
do – and must do. Jesus commanded it!
Third post and you have already said more than most disciple 'making' programs and seminars we attended since the late 60s. (Wish we could get a refund.) Great foundation to build on. Press on, John, be true.
ReplyDeleteThis is an encouraging and challenging piece. On the one hand, encouraging as to the information of what a disciple is and that we can all accomplish this, yet challenging in that being a spectator is much easier. Have we as Christians become a "spectating" group?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting to see how to disciple is to teach. Reading this scripture as, "As you go, teach," takes my mind to a completely different place than reading it as, "As you go, make disciples." What Jesus is commanding here is not as complicated as we have a tendency to make it seem. As we strive towards Christ's likeness, shouldn't we have a desire to teach any way? After all his disciples called him Rabbi.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see this translated to "disciple" versus "make disciples". The word make implies that disciple is based on my effort. To disciple is almost a state of being. Almost who I am as apposed to what I can make. Give a richer perspective that leaves the "making" in God's hands, not ours.
ReplyDeleteWhile I think I understand what you're trying to do, I think the difference is more semantic than substantive. For example, BDAG, one of the most-respected Greek lexicons, says this word means "to cause one to be a pupil," which is virtually identical to "make disciples." To disciple someone is to make, or produce, a disciple. In this particular case, the difference seems negligible.
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand and agree with the majority of what you are writing, I feel as if I have been MADE a disciple though God using others in my life. While it has been in an action, and while only God makes disciples, God often uses human interactions to form and shape us. Maybe I'm missing the point, but I believe there is room for both.
ReplyDelete