3 Thoughts About Discipleship

Discipleship is about imitation. There are 4 words in the N.T. for “disciple” or “discipleship”:

1. Mathatays (“disciple”). It refers to one who attaches themselves to another for the purpose of learning and committing themselves to what that person says.

2. Akoloutheo (“to follow after”). The basic understanding of this word refers to someone who has answered the call of Jesus and has redirected his or her life in obedience to Him.

3. Opiso (“to come after”). While the previous Greek word refers to the practice of a disciple; this word is more the position. They “come after”, which means they are in subordination to their mentor. They are under his wisdom and authority. It means that they totally break from the past life and they place themselves under the leadership of the one discipling them.

4. Mimieomai (“to imitate”). This is the same word we get out English word “mimic.” A mimic is someone who copies or imitates someone else in actions, speech, etc. A disciple mimics his earthly mentor; he is a spiritual copycat. He watches someone’s character, someone’s work ethic, someone’s ministry, someone’s attitudes and he tries to reduplicate those things in his life.

Men are imperfect templates, but they are still templates. No one – Paul included – would say, “Copy everything I do, even my sins!” No one has arrived or will ever arrive this side of heaven. However, the examples in Scripture or in church history for more than education but for instruction. We are reminded in I Corinthians 10:11, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, …” The righteous fascination with character studies is that there is a sense of relatability to them as men and woman that encourage us in their victories and defeats. We are, and should be, creatures of imitation; it is examples that draw us.

The ultimate copy is still Christ. Right after the “Hall of Faith” chapter in Hebrews 11, we read, “ Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2). Those imperfect templates, if they are worthy of our admiration, will be pointing us to Christ. At best, they are pointers or reflectors of Jesus Himself. Paul is not calling us to do anything he hasn’t been pursuing himself.

Who disciples you? Who are you discipling?