Lexical Summary mathétés: Disciple, learner, pupil Original Word: μαθητής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance disciple. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil -- disciple. see GREEK manthano HELPS Word-studies 3101 mathētḗs (from math-, the "mental effort needed to think something through") – properly, a learner; a disciple, a follower of Christ who learns the doctrines of Scripture and the lifestyle they require; someone catechized with proper instruction from the Bible with its necessary follow-through (life-applications). See also 3100 /mathēteúō ("to disciple"). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom manthanó Definition a disciple NASB Translation disciple (26), disciples (233), disciples' (1), pupil (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3101: μαθητήςμαθητής, μαθητοῦ, ὁ (μανθάνω), a learner, pupil, disciple: universally, opposed to διδάσκαλος, Matthew 10:24; Luke 6:40; τίνος, one who follows one's teaching: Ἰωάννου, Matthew 9:14; Luke 7:18 (19); John 3:25; τῶν Φαρισαίων, Matthew 22:16; Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33; Μωϋσέως, John 9:28; of Jesus — in a wide sense, in the Gospels, those among the Jews who favored him, joined his party, became his adherents: John 6:66; John 7:3; John 19:38; ὄχλος μαθητῶν αὐτοῦ, Luke 6:17; οἱ μαθητοι αὐτοῦ ἱκανοί, Luke 7:11; ἅπαν τό πλῆθος τῶν μαθητῶν, Luke 19:31; but especially the twelve apostles: Matthew 10:1; Matthew 11:1; Matthew 12:1; Mark 8:27; Luke 8:9; John 2:2; John 3:22, and very often; also simply οἱ μαθηταί, Matthew 13:10; Matthew 14:19; Mark 10:24; Luke 9:16; John 6:11 (Rec.), etc.; in the Acts οἱ μαθηταί are all those who confess Jesus as the Messiah, Christians: Acts 6:1f, 7; Acts 9:19; Acts 11:26, and often; with τοῦ κυρίου added, Acts 9:1. The word is not found in the O. T, nor in the Epistles of the N. T., nor in the Apocalypse; in Greek writings from (Herodotus), Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato down. Topical Lexicon Scope and Range of the TermΜαθητής designates a learner who binds himself to a teacher in order to embrace that teacher’s worldview and way of life. In the New Testament the noun describes (1) the inner circle of the Twelve, (2) the wider company that followed Jesus during His earthly ministry, and (3) the ever-expanding community of believers after Pentecost. In every case the term is relational and transformational: to be a disciple is to belong to Jesus and to be changed by Him. Disciples around Jesus during His Galilean and Judean Ministry The Synoptic Gospels repeatedly distinguish Jesus’ μαθηταί from the curious crowds. When He “went up on the mountain…His disciples came to Him” (Matthew 5:1), underlining their privileged access to kingdom revelation. They accompany Him in travel (Matthew 8:23), receive private explanations of parables (Matthew 13:10, Mark 4:34), and participate in feeding miracles (Matthew 14:19; 15:36). Luke stresses the numerical breadth of this circle: after a night of prayer Jesus “called His disciples and chose twelve of them” (Luke 6:13)—implying a larger company already formed. The Twelve as Representative Disciples Within the broader group stand the Twelve (Matthew 10:1–4; Mark 3:14–19; Luke 6:13–16). They symbolize the new Israel, are appointed “to be with Him” (Mark 3:14) and are trained for mission. Their failures (Matthew 17:19–20), misunderstandings (Mark 8:17–21), and eventual restoration (John 20:19–23) serve as pastoral encouragement: genuine disciples may falter, yet grace prevails. Hallmarks of Genuine Discipleship 1. Obedience to Christ’s word—“If you remain in My word, you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31). Contrast with Rabbinic Disciples First-century rabbis gathered μαθηταί who adopted legal interpretations. Jesus’ pattern is both similar (itinerant instruction, memorization of sayings) and radically different: He claims absolute authority (“You have one Teacher, the Christ,” Matthew 23:10), demands personal allegiance above all relationships (Luke 14:26), and promises indwelling life through union with Himself (John 6:56). From Disciples to Apostles to Witnesses The term fades in Acts after chapter 21, giving way to “brothers,” “saints,” and “believers,” yet μαθηταί in Acts 6:1, 6:7, 9:1, 11:26, etc., shows that the early church understood every convert as a disciple. Antioch, where “the disciples were first called Christians” (Acts 11:26), illustrates the progression: discipleship becomes the defining identity of the redeemed community irrespective of ethnicity. The Great Commission and Perpetuity of Discipleship “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The participle “make disciples” extends the μαθητής concept to the ends of the earth. Baptism and ongoing teaching (“teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”) mark the disciple-making task until the end of the age. The risen Lord’s universal authority guarantees the success of this mandate. Cost and Reward Jesus soberly warns prospective followers to “count the cost” (Luke 14:28) yet affirms abundant reward: “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters…for My name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). Women as Disciples Though first-century culture seldom applied μαθητής to women, Luke notes female discipleship explicitly (Luke 8:1-3; Acts 9:36). John identifies Mary Magdalene as the first commissioned witness of the resurrection (John 20:17–18), showing the inclusive reach of true discipleship. Legacy in the Early Church Acts 6:7 reports, “the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem grew rapidly.” Disciples multiply in urban centers (Acts 14:21–23), are strengthened through teaching and pastoral visitation (Acts 18:23; 20:1), and become the seedbed for new leadership (Acts 16:1). Thus μαθητής functions as the ordinary designation for believers tasked with advancing the gospel. Contemporary Implications Biblical discipleship involves more than initial faith; it is lifelong apprenticeship under Jesus’ lordship, expressed in local church fellowship, disciplined learning, sacrificial service, and gospel witness. Any ministry that neglects the formation of μαθηταί departs from the pattern modeled in Scripture. Forms and Transliterations αὐτοῦ μαθηται μαθηταί μαθηταὶ μαθηταις μαθηταίς μαθηταῖς μαθητας μαθητάς μαθητὰς μαθητη μαθητή μαθητῇ μαθητην μαθητήν μαθητὴν μαθητης μαθητής μαθητὴς μαθητου μαθητού μαθητοῦ μαθητων μαθητών μαθητῶν μαθηών autou mathetai mathetaí mathetaì mathētai mathētaí mathētaì mathetais mathetaîs mathētais mathētaîs mathetas mathetás mathetàs mathētas mathētás mathētàs mathete mathētē mathetêi mathētē̂i matheten mathetḕn mathētēn mathētḕn mathetes mathetḗs mathetḕs mathētēs mathētḗs mathētḕs matheton mathetôn mathētōn mathētō̂n mathetou mathetoû mathētou mathētoûLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:1 N-NMPGRK: αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ NAS: and after He sat down, His disciples came KJV: was set, his disciples came unto him: INT: to him the disciples to him Matthew 8:21 N-GMP Matthew 8:23 N-NMP Matthew 9:10 N-DMP Matthew 9:11 N-DMP Matthew 9:14 N-NMP Matthew 9:14 N-NMP Matthew 9:19 N-NMP Matthew 9:37 N-DMP Matthew 10:1 N-AMP Matthew 10:24 N-NMS Matthew 10:25 N-DMS Matthew 10:42 N-GMS Matthew 11:1 N-DMP Matthew 11:2 N-GMP Matthew 12:1 N-NMP Matthew 12:2 N-NMP Matthew 12:49 N-AMP Matthew 13:10 N-NMP Matthew 13:36 N-NMP Matthew 14:12 N-NMP Matthew 14:15 N-NMP Matthew 14:19 N-DMP Matthew 14:19 N-NMP Matthew 14:22 N-AMP Strong's Greek 3101 |
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