Disciples in the First Century
"Disciples in the First Century," by Karen Kogler; thesis submitted July 2009 in the Masters of Theology program of Concordia University, Irvine, California.
What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ? How does it impact our daily life? How does it impact how we serve together in the community that is the church? To begin to answer these questions, I went back to the beginnnig. For my thesis, I researched what that word meant to those who actually witnessed Jesus' interactions with his own disciples, those who were there when Jesus spoke about discipleship, and those who first heard and read the written Gospel accounts.
When time permits, I will condense this thesis to a less lengthy, less academic article, but it is available here for those undaunted by length and an academic (but still readable!) style. The various sections, outlined in the Table of Contents, are able to be read on their own.
Summary: First century Jewish society was a vibrant mix of teachers and groups to which people were attached. Disciple was a Greek word and concept used for these attachments. Since it was common and well-understood, disciple was a useful term and relationship for Jesus to use in his ministry. At this time, disciple was used in a broad and generic, rather than specific and technical, manner. It referred to a personal relationship to a teacher/leader and a commitment to his work or cause. In Scripture, the Hebrew word for disciple and its concept are absent from the Old Testament, while the Greek word is limited to the Gospels and Acts. Jesus' interaction with his disciples had similarities to the common practices of the day, but the differences are striking. While the Gospel writers include the selection of the twelve disciples, and their appointment as apostles, they give little attention to the distinction between the Twelve and other disciples. The vast majority of the time, the narratives do not tell us precisely who is included in the term "the disciples." The writers do, however, make a great distinction between those who follow Jesus, and those who reject him. The Gospel writers' interesting manner of naming other groups follows what must have been a common stylistic usage of the day for naming groups and their leaders. For today's church, the term disciple is rich in meaning, encompassing both the grace by which we are called and the sanctified life we are to live.
Full text: "Disciples in the First Century"