disciple

Posted on November 12, 2022November 12, 2022 by christianwordsblog

UNWORTHY

When you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ (Luke 17:10 ESV)

In the latest post, the same passage based on a translation where ἀχρεῖος, achreios, the word above ‘unworthy’, was better rendered as ‘unprofitable’. Is ‘unworthy’ poor translation? Hardly, for it correctly conveys the sense that someone or something is ‘lacks utility’, the very literal meaning of achreios, and it is short step from ‘useless’ to ‘being without merit’ – but it may possibly mislead if taken in isolation from all the Jesus taught, and indeed, all Scripture.

Posted on November 11, 2022November 11, 2022 by christianwordsblog

UNPROFITABLE

when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ (Luke 17:10)

Jesus, through the unusual device of a parable based on rhetorical questions, seems to be challenging the stubborn thinking of his close disciples, and it is easy to see how the same attitude prevails in all who would follow Christ.

For it is easy to fall into the mistaken notion that in keeping the commandments, say the Great Commission, evangelising the Gospel and discipling those evangelised, a person adds to God’s purpose. Put another way, the faithful disciples thinks that they are necessary for God to achieve his goals and without them God is at a loss.

Posted on April 25, 2021April 25, 2021 by christianwordsblog

HERESY

I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval.

(1 Corinthians 11:18-19)

The word that is translated ‘differences’ is αἵρεσις hairesis or heresy.

The English language borrowed words from other languages (notably Greek) for concepts our pagan forebears did not have before becoming Christian. For example, standing in alignment (rihtwis, the right-wise or way) with your king was critical, so we have righteous; but how and why you chose your deity was not: Frige, Thor, Wotan, Tiw, take your pick; mix and match!

Posted on February 17, 2021 by christianwordsblog

… any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:33)

The word translated ‘disciple’ is μαθητής mathétés and it means one who subjects themselves to mental effort or rigour; mathematics, clearly a subject that demands much intellectual application, derives from the same root, mathema, which is literally ‘that which is learnt’.

A disciple, then, is different to a ‘follower’. During his ministry, large numbers of people followed Jesus from town to town and mountainside to lakeside, but only a handful transitioned into discipleship, why was this? Because few were willing to make the necessary effort or to pay the extreme cost of worldly renunciation. Jesus outlines by this first employing plain language:

Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple …’ (ibid 14:25-26)