Disciple
A student and follower of Jesus, shaping their whole life around his teaching.
A little more
In the first century, a disciple attached themselves to a rabbi (teacher) to learn not just facts but a whole way of life. Jesus’ disciples left jobs and homes to travel with him, learning by watching and imitating as much as by listening.
The word is still used today for anyone seriously following Jesus, not just his original twelve closest followers (see apostle). Being a disciple isn’t about perfection — the Gospels show Jesus’ disciples getting things wrong regularly — but about ongoing, committed learning and following.
Read it for yourself
- Mark 1:16-20Jesus calls his first disciples away from their fishing nets.