Dictionary of Bible Themes: 7621 disciples, calling of

7621 disciples, calling of

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 7000 God's people » 7600 History of God's people in NT » 7620 disciples » 7621 disciples, calling of

The term is applied to Christians in general, not to the Twelve only. It emphasises the importance of Jesus Christ's followers learning from Christ as their teacher.

Disciples learning from their master

Isaiah 8:16; Amos 7:14 See also 1 Kings 20:35; Nehemiah 3:8; Isaiah 19:11; Matthew 10:24; Mark 2:18 pp Luke 5:33; Luke 6:40; John 1:35; John 9:28

Those referred to as disciples in the NT

The disciples as the apostles

Matthew 10:1-2 The apostles were uniquely appointed as founding pillars of the church, but in some respects they were also representative disciples.

The disciples as believers in general

Matthew 28:19; Acts 19:1-2 Christian believers, not fully mature. See also Luke 6:13,17; Acts 6:2; Acts 11:26

The disciples as an intimate circle of believers

Matthew 18:1; Mark 4:10

How disciples are called

It sometimes implies physically following Jesus Christ and leaving everything

Matthew 4:19 pp Mark 1:16-20; Matthew 8:18-22 pp Luke 9:57-60; Matthew 9:9 pp Mark 2:14

Calling in a more general spiritual sense

How disciples learn from Jesus Christ the teacher

By repeating the words of Jesus Christ

Luke 11:1-4 The rhythmical form of much of Jesus Christ's teaching suggests he intended his words to be remembered verbatim. See also Matthew 5:3-10

By signs

John 2:11 See also Mark 5:37,40 pp Luke 8:51

By understanding the OT Scriptures

John 1:45 See also Luke 18:31-33; Luke 24:27,32,44-45

By understanding the parables

Mark 4:11-12 pp Matthew 13:10-11 pp Luke 8:9-10 See also Mark 4:34

By practical experience of mission

Luke 10:23-24 These words follow the sending out of the seventy-two. See also Mark 6:6-11; Luke 9:1-2 pp Matthew 10:1

In periods of being alone with Jesus Christ

Mark 6:31 See also Matthew 16:21

In spite of their faulty understanding

Luke 24:25 See also Mark 9:32 pp Luke 9:45; Luke 18:34