Discipleship

Discipleship is the process of devoting oneself to a teacher to learn from and become more like them. For the Christian, this refers to the process of learning the teachings of Jesus and following after his example in obedience through the power of the Holy Spirit. Discipleship not only involves the process of becoming a disciple but of making other disciples through teaching and evangelism.

Moses made clear that the teaching of the law was meant to result in obedience to what it said rather than just intellectual acceptance (Deut 4:5)To be disciplined is to learn how to act properly (Psa 94:12–15). The verb לָמַד (lāmad, “to teach”) and its relatives share an overlap in meaning with “training,” where the emphasis is a change in behavior as well as growth in knowledge (Judg 3:2; 1 Chr 5:18).

NT is clearly more focused on describing the disciples of Jesus, who give up everything to follow him and devote themselves to his teachings (Luke 6:40).

In addition, Jesus also uses the term μαθητεύω (mathēteuō, “to make a disciple”) in his final mandate to go and make more disciples from all nations (Matt 28:19)

Paul uses the term to describe being trained to renounce ungodliness (Titus 2:12), while the author of Revelation speaks of the Lord disciplining (paideuō) his church in order to foster obedience (Rev 3:9).

Old Testamentיָסַר (yāsar). vb. to discipline, instruct. Refers to the act of correcting or even punishing wrong behavior.Although the usual usage of the term is in the negative sense of discipline or punishing, yāsar can also be used to describe the act of instructing or teaching. Job is praised by his friends for instructing (yāsar) many (Job 4:3), and Isa 28:26 speaks of one whom God instructs (yāsar). In addition, Psalm 94 uses yāsar twice in its more natural meaning of “discipline,” yet each time the term is held in parallel with the verb לָמַד (lāmad), which is the more common term for “teach” (Psa 94:10, 12). The emphasis when yāsar is used is on the result—a change in behavior is both expected and intended.

(mûsār). n. masc. discipline, chastening. Used of an act of correction or punishment for wrongdoing.

Like the related verb יָסַר (yāsar), the noun mûsār often has a negative connotation of punishment or chastisement. However, it too can have a more neutral sense of “instruction” (Jer 35:13; Job 36:10), though the emphasis is nearly always on a change in behavior. The term is especially prevalent in Proverbs, where instruction (mûsār) is connected to wisdom (Prov 1:2; 8:33) and always is seen as a positive thing (e.g., Prov 4:1; 15:5; 23:12).

לָמַד (lāmad). vb. to learn; to teach, train. Refers to the act of teaching or training another in a skill or concept.

While Hebrew has several verbs that can refer to the act of teaching, lāmad is commonly tied to a resulting action. The term occurs in Deut 4:5, where the purpose of the teaching is explicitly tied to obedience. This usage is also seen in the several instances where the term refers to the act of training a soldier (Judg 3:2; 1 Chr 5:18; Song 3:8; Isa 2:4).

לִמֻּד (limmud). adj. taught. Used to describe one who receives training or instruction.

This word is related to לָמַד (lāmad, “to teach”). The word limmud is used infrequently in the OT, but is the only term translated as “disciple” in most modern versions (Isa 8:16). Although in this instance the term functions as a noun, it is usually an adjective describing one who has been educated a certain way (Isa 50:4; 54:13) or those who are accustomed to a certain behavior (Jer 2:24; 13:23).

New Testament

μαθητής (mathētēs). n. masc. disciple, learner. Used of a person who follows after and seeks to learn from another.