The word “disciple,” meaning “pupil” or “learner,” appears 29 times in the Bible, all in the New Testament. The word “disciples” from the same Greek word appears 243 times in the New Testament. “Disciples,” meaning “learned” or “taught,” appears once in the Old Testament. The word “Christian” appears twice (Acts 26:28; 1 Peter 4:16) and the plural “Christians” appears once (Acts 11:26) in the New Testament. In addition, several other words have been used in both testaments to identify the people of God (e.g., children, sons, brothers, brethren, saints, believers, etc.).
Some years ago, a brother who was about to teach one of my books in a class tracked me down to argue that I had erred in my text when referring to “Christians” as “disciples.” His contention was that the name “disciple” was never applied to a “Christian” after that new name was bestowed (Isaiah 62:2; Acts 11:26). He supposed that we are not to be known by any of the names by which God’s people were known previously once the new name “Christian” was given. Obviously, the new name Christian has a special significance, but does that mean Christians are no longer disciples, no longer children of God, no longer sons, no longer brethren, no longer saints, no longer believers, etc.?
On the heels of Acts 11:26 where disciples were first called Christians, Christians are referred to in Holy Writ as “disciples” (vs. 29). Numerous times throughout the remainder of the Book of Acts the word disciple is applied to the Christian. Likewise, the other terms by which God’s people were known are used for Christians after the new name Christian was given. Similar to the way in which “elder,” “pastor,” “bishop,” “overseer,” etc. are applied in our English Bibles to the same function, the various terms by which God’s people are addressed in the New Testament portray different subtleties regarding the same persons.
Our scholarship, especially among those who would teach, needs to have a greater depth than shallow assumptions (James 3:1). The purpose of teaching is edification (1 Corinthians 14:12), which does not happen without adequate general and specific preparation. Failing as teachers and preachers is catastrophic for the teacher and the would-be learners (Romans 16:17-18).
