Disciple Quote by Bill Hull
““The inclusion of the meaning "adherent" at the time of Christ and the early church made mathetes a convenient term to designate the followers of Jesus, because it didn't emphasize learning or being a pupil but adherence to a great master. So a "disciple" of Jesus, designated by the Greek term mathetes, was a person who adhered to his master, and the master himself determined how the disciple followed' Of course, that leads us to Jesus' call to all who were interested: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23). Five hundred years before Jesus was born, a disciple was one who committed his all to follow a master teacher. The meaning remained the same until the time of Jesus, providing our first major clue about what Jesus meant when he told his disciples to "make disciples.””
About This Quote
Source Text: Theological analysis on early Christian terminology, author Bill Hull, date unknown
The passage explains that “mathetes” originally meant a devoted follower, not just a learner, and connects this to Jesus’ call for self‑denial and daily discipleship.
In simple terms: Mathetes = devoted follower; Jesus’ call to self‑denial.
Key Takeaway
Follow a higher purpose beyond personal gain.
Themes
faith
discipleship
historical linguistics
self‑sacrifice
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
theological
When to use this quote
- religious study
- personal spiritual practice
- leadership training
Key Concepts
Greek terminology
early church
personal transformation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does true devotion differ from mere learning?
- What does “taking up your cross” mean today?
A Different Perspective
Modern contexts may reinterpret “discipleship” in secular ways, diluting its depth.
![“In this essential point Ibn rArabi declares concisely: "Those to whom God remains veiled pray the God who in their belief is their Lord to have compassion with them. But the intuitive mystics [Ahl al-Kashf] ask that divine Compassion be fulfilled [come into being, exist] through them."28 In other…” quote by Henry Corbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/13a/henry-corbin-26358_prayer_in-this-essential-point-ibn-rarabi-decla_1274231.jpg)
