The Torah Network

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DISCIPLE; APOSTLE; APOSTLESHIP

A disciple is someone who follows another person or way of life. A disciple submits himself to the discipline or teaching of that leader or way. In the Bible the term [disciple] is almost always found in the Gospels and the book of Acts. A few times in the Old Testament the word is translated [learned] and [taught.] Wherever there is a teacher and those taught, the idea of discipleship is present. In the Gospels the immediate followers of Yeshua are called [disciples.] The Twelve were called by Yeshua’ authority from a wide variety of circumstances. But all those who approved of His Teaching and were committed to Him are called [disciples.] The calling of these disciples took place at a time when other teachers had their disciples. Most notable were the Pharisees -- Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33; and John the Baptist -- Matthew 9:14. John the Baptist’s practice shows that different leaders called for different disciplines from their followers. John’s way was one of self-denial. However, that teaching involved not only conduct and manner of life, but also a distinctive pattern of praying --Luke 11:1. The disciples of Yeshua had a unique experience. They benefited from the immediate teaching of Yeshua, His looks and tones of voice -- Mark 10:21, as well as His Words. But they also witnessed the unfolding drama of redemption that had Moshiach as its centre. They followed a Teacher Who was the substance of that teaching. The first disciples could be taught by Moshiach only little by little. They had a need to understand -- Matthew 16:21. But the full significance of what Yeshua said and did could not be most fully appreciated until after the events of His Crucifixion and Resurrection -- Matthew 28:9. This period of [discipling] covered the time before and after Moshiach’s death and resurrection. But it continued on after Pentecost, when Ruach HaKodesh taught the disciples about matters that they could not bear while Yeshua remained on earth -- John 16:12. Groups of Yeshua’ first disciples included both the Twelve and the Seventy -- Matthew 26:20; Luke 10:1.

They not only received His Teaching and taught others in turn --Luke 10:1-11, they were also given power to heal -- Matthew 10:1. They were to proclaim the Message of Salvation through Moshiach. Yet the Twelve were given a special place. With the exception of Judas Iscariot [whose place was taken by Matthias, -- Acts 1:26], they became the foundation teachers of the newly emerging believers church. Their authority in the church, given by Moshiach -- Matthew 16:19; 28:16-20, was to be marked by a unique style of self-giving service -- Luke 22:24-30. This group of disciples came to be known as the apostles. This term was later given a wider meaning. For example, Saul of Tarsus was added. He was converted on the road to Damascus. He saw the Risen Adonai and was immediately commissioned by Moshiach -- Galatians 1:12, 16 as the apostle to the Gentiles -- Acts 9:15. At the time of his ascension Moshiach commissioned the first disciples to [make disciples of all nations] -- Matthew 28:19. Hence, the term [disciple] is also used in the book of Acts to describe believers, all those who confess Moshiach. Naturally, they have not been directly called by Moshiach Himself. But such disciples are called by Moshiach’s Spirit through the message delivered by the first disciples. Disciples called later are not in any sense inferior to the first disciples. It was proper for early believers to be called disciples of Yeshua of Nazareth or simply [the disciples] -- Acts 6:1-2, 7; 9:36; 11:26. This is because they were carrying on the teaching of Yeshua and following His example. They were thus recognized as a school or living community that reflected the teaching of their Master in practice. The book of -- 1 John shows that only those who keep Moshiach’s Commandments show real love for YHVH -- 1 John 2:3-6; 3:10-11.

An apostle is a person sent with a special message. Certain leading individuals in the New Testament were called apostles. Apostleship refers to the duties of those who served as an apostle. The Greek word for apostle is not used outside the New Testament in the same sense it is in the New Testament. It is derived from a sailing term, the verb [to send.] It means a particular ship or group of ships, a marine expedition or the leader of such. It doesn’t speak of authority, just an understanding of something being sent. Later, the word meant bill, invoice, and even passport. In the New Testament, the word was used to point out those who had been sent by Yeshua with the message of the gospel. From among the wider group of those who followed Him, Yeshua selected twelve men -- Matthew 10:1-4; Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16. These men maintained a particularly close relationship with Him. They received private instruction and witnessed His miracles and controversy with the Jewish authorities. On one occasion, Yeshua sent these men out to preach the message of repentance. They were also told to cast out demons and to heal the sick as Yeshua Himself was doing -- Matthew 10:1-15; Mark 6:7-13, 30; Luke 9:1-6. This relationship is expressed in the saying: [He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me] -- Luke 10:16, RSV; compare with Matthew 10:40. The Twelve were not merely to pass Yeshua’ teachings on but to represent His very Person. After the Resurrection, Yeshua commissioned the Twelve -- Matthew 28; Luke 24; John 20–21 to proclaim YHVH’s Message on behalf of all men.

Only those who had been with Yeshua from the beginning of His Ministry to His Resurrection were called His Apostolic witnesses -- Acts 1:21-22. Paul qualified because he had seen the risen Moshiach -- 1 Corinthians 15:4-10. In his writings Paul showed two ways to use the word apostle. On occasion, it refers to persons given authority by local congregations to deliver safely specific gifts for other members of the believers community -- 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25. More important are those passages where apostle takes on more meaning through the phrase [of Yeshua Moshiach] -- 1 Corinthians 1:1; 2 Corinthians 1:1; 11:13; Galatians 1:1; Ephesians 1:1; Colossians 1:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:6. The [sent one] is the [sent one of Yeshua Moshiach -- Romans 16:7; 1 Corinthians 9:1, 5; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Galatians 1:17-19. Where Paul claims his own right to this title, he always links this claim to a specific event in the past in which the risen Adonai had appeared to him -- 1 Corinthians 9:1; Galatians 1:12, 16. He ranked this appearance alongside the first resurrection appearances -- 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. Paul understood his experience outside Damascus -- see Acts 9:1-19a; 22:6-16; 26:12-18; Galatians 1:17 as a lifelong commission to preach the now-resurrected One -- 1 Corinthians 1:17; 2:1-2. His calling was chiefly among the Gentiles -- Acts 9:15; 22:15; 26:17, 23; Galatians 1:15-16. It was through his preaching ministry that Moshiach continued to work, creating the new people of YHVH -- 1 Corinthians 9:1-2; Galatians 2:8.

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