Disciple Quote by Bill Hull
““In the world of togas, sandals, the Parthenon, temples, and little white homes perched on hillsides overlooking the sea, discipleship permeated Greek life-from aristocrats to peasants, from philosophers to tradesmen. In the first century, the apostle Paul stood on Mars Hill and said, "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious… I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you" (Acts 17:22-23). Paul's speech demonstrates that the Greek philosophers were confused about God. But they were also astute in passing on their confusion as they lived out discipleship and even created some of its language and technique. The Greek masters' use of mathetes, or disciple: As explored in chapter 1, mathetes is translated "disciple." We can find the concept of disciple-a person following a master-among the great masters of Greece. Plato, Socrates, and Herodotus all used disciple to mean "learner" or "one who is a diligent student." These and other Greek philosophers generally understood that the disciple's life involved apprenticeship, a relationship of submission, and a life of demanding””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Influence of Greek Culture on Early Christianity, 2020
Paul used Greek philosophical language to connect with Athenians, showing both confusion about God and the power of discipleship language.
In simple terms: Paul adapted Greek ideas to teach about God, highlighting discipleship.
Use familiar concepts to bridge cultural gaps.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- teaching in diverse societies
- interfaith dialogue
- educational outreach
- missionary work
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can modern teachers use local language to convey new ideas?
- What risks arise when adapting concepts across cultures?
Greek philosophers also had deep insights, not just confusion.