The terms Believer, Christian, Disciple, Apostle and even Saint are related, and often interchangeable, but they certainly are not always synonymous. Too often people suppose those titles have the exact same meanings. That is not accurate.
Believers. The first use of the word “believed” is found in Genesis chapter 15, verse 6“And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. The words believe or believed are found many times in the Old Testament but not the term “Believer” except as described in the NIV version of First Kings chapter 18, verse 3 “Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord.” However, most other bible versions of this verse use terms like “Feared, revered, devout and true follower”.
Among the different versions of the bible, there is more unity that the New Testament term “believer” is first found Acts 16, verse 1 “...whose mother was a Jewess and a believer. In John chapter 4, verse 41 “And many more believed because of His own word.” However, Matthew 5, verse 13 was certainly speaking of believers when he wrote, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” The terms believer or believers are referred to several times in the New Testament book of Matthew, John, Acts, Corinthians, Timothy, and Peter.
Biblically speaking, believers, by the power of the Holy Spirit, instantly become Christians by placing their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christians are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit and without that saving Grace would never see heaven. (John chapter 3, verse 3) All Christians “belong to Christ” and strive daily to reflect Christ's teaching and Commandments. True Christians, as opposed to those only Christian by their own definition, can also be called believers, followers, disciples, or saints. A true Christian in Christ and possesses new life through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Because he or she believes in Christ, a Christian will also be an obedient Disciple. Paul describes the reality of taking up one’s cross and following the Lord: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians chapter 2 verse 20).
Christians. Did you know Jesus was never recorded using the word “Christian”? The first instance of the word Christian is found in the book of Acts: “The Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch” (Acts chapter 11, verses 2 through 6). The majority of Biblical scholars agree believers did not call themselves “Christians.” Most likely that term was bestowed on them by non-believers, probably as an insulting term of distinctness. Believers adopted the name “Christians” for themselves because they were subject to suffering and abuse in the name of Yeshua, e.g., the most common name for Jesus the Christ. The idea that the term Christian was originally a pejorative finds some support in the first epistle of First Peter chapter 4, verse 16, “However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.”
Of course, the term “Christian” is not found in the Old Testaments writings. Three principle references to Christians in the New Testament are:
Acts chapter 11, verse 26, “And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the Disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
Acts chapter 26, verse 28 “Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
1st Peter chapter 4 verse 16 “Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.”
Similarly, Christian(s) behaviors, freedom, inspiration and descriptions of home life are expressed by:
Romans 12, verse 9 “[behaviors] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good..”
Galatians chapter 5, verse 1 “[freedom] Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again.”
Colossians chapter 4, verse 2 “[inspirations] “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Colossians chapter 3, verse 18-25 “[home life] “Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.”
Both, Believers and Christians know Jesus the Christ is our personal Savior and follow the biblical teachings that there is only one God in all existence, God is manifested as a triune God, God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We know salvation is by grace alone through faith, Jesus died on the cross, and Jesus rose from the dead in His glorified, physical, body. Any theological statements contradicting any of these teachings is not Christian. Therefore, all non-believers represent the Anti-Christ. There is no neutral ground. In First John chapter 4, verses 1 through 3, my interpretation is, John is saying all who do not confess Jesus are the spirit of the antichrist, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world."
So it is easily ingrained that the terms “Believers and Christian” may be used synonymously. Also, the terms “sister or brother” use as “sister or brother in Christ” have very similar meanings. Since designations of Believer and Christian have the same meaning, what then, might be the differences between them and Disciples?
Disciples. A generic dictionary definition of “Disciple(s)” relates to the followers giving loyalty and support to another person, thing, or movement. Disciples often attach themselves either to the person or beliefs of another. The Pharisees prided themselves in being Disciples of Moses but refused the call of Jesus.
The Bible refers to Disciple(s) with verses such as:
Isaiah chapter 8, verse 16 “Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my Disciples.”
Acts chapter 13, verse 52; “And the Disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
Discipleship began with Jesus’ call and required them to exercise their will in response (Matthew chapter 9, verse 9). Jesus was quite explicit about the cost of following Him. What a Disciple is, is prescribed in John chapter 8, verse 31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my Disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The cost of being a Disciple is described in Luke chapter 14, verse 25-27, “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters–yes, even his own life–he cannot be my Disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my Disciple.”
Discipleship requires stronger commitments to Christ and His teachings: “Any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my Disciple” (Luke chapter 14, verse 33). Sacrifice is expected: “Jesus said to his Disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew chapter 16, verse 24). Not all of Jesus’ followers were able to follow through with such commitments. There were many who left Him after a while. “From this time many of his Disciples turned back and no longer followed him” (John chapter 6, verse 66).
Christian belief's hold, by the widest thought process, that anyone who adheres to Christ's teachings may be called a Disciple. John 8, verse 31 tells us, Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My Disciples indeed.” A Disciple of Christ can be anyone who follows and adheres to His teachings, so Disciples can be men or women, adults or children, wealthy or poor, ...you name it.
A narrower, more specific, description would define the title of “Disciples” as followers with fully devoted loyalties and commitments to the teachings of Jesus the Christ who, themselves, defend and expound the Word. Disciples are believers who press forward and express the relationship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the Word by the Holy Spirit. As all Christians are, Disciples are even more empowered by the Holy Spirit. With their more positive efforts and demonstrative Biblical understandings, Disciples are usually more active in spreading the teaching of the Gospels than 'mere' believers.
Simply put, all Christian Disciples are Christian believers but not all Christians are not Gospel teaching Disciples.
Saints. To generate more consideration of thought, let's compare the terms of “Disciples” to “saints”.The word "Saint" or “hagios” in Greek means separated or apart. A reassuring Old Testament verse dealing with saints is Psalm chapter 97, verse 10 “You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.”
The words “saint or saints” are found in less than two dozen times in the Bible's teachings,most commonly in Psalms and later in Paul's letters of Romans and Ephesians. "Saint" was afterward distorted to mean a state of holiness which very few can attain, but in New Testament times it was a regular title for those who believed in Jesus. In this sense of awareness, anyone who is within the Body of Christ is a “saint” because of their relationship with Christ Jesus. Within most Protestant teachings saint, Disciple, Christian, and believer, all in the broadest sense, share frequent interchangeability. Paul even wrote in Romans chapter 1, verse 7 of the King James Version, “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Within doctrines similar to the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches some of the dearly departed are considered to be deserving of greater honor, with official recognition given to some Saints by canonization or glorification. This transfiguration is decreed by the Catholic hierarchy after the candidate's life works and/or two miracles, (two miracles is the minimum). These are voted on, then sent forward to the Pope for confirmation or denial. The total number of named Catholic Saints listed exceeds 10,000 but the exact numbers are hard to define as some are added or removed from time to time.
But, returning back to the more basic Baptist tracks, Saints and Disciples are most frequently coequal in meanings. As you may have seen, "saint" has a wide mixture of meanings, yet with slight nuances in both usage and significance, depending on the context and denomination. The original Christian connotation of saint was a supporter or follower of Christ. Additionally, within many Protestant Churches, all of the faithfully deceased go to Heaven and are considered Saints.
Apostles. Apart from the Disciples and saints, there is also mention of the “Apostles” in the New Testament portion of the Bible and people oftentimes treat the words Apostles and Disciples to be the same and often use these words interchangeably. That is not always correct for there is frequent confusion about the Christian definitions of Disciples and Apostles. The term Apostle came to be used before and after Ascension of Jesus. The 12 Apostles were named by Jesus Himself. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts) The differences can be better understood when you know how “Apostle” is defined. According to English dictionaries, the general meaning of the term Apostle is “a vigorous and pioneering advocate or supporter of a particular policy, idea, or cause.” However, as a matter of clarification, the term “Apostle” may also reflect greater empowerment and acknowledge evidence of how the individual acted when filled with the Holy Spirit. An excellent example of this transition is found in Acts chapter 2, verse 1-12.
When the day of Pentecost came, the Disciples and others were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Please consider my persuasion that the languages spoken in Acts were not like the speaking of tongues as described in First Corinthians chapter 14, verse 4 “Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.”
The heart and soul of this Pentecost passage is not the blowing wind. Nor the sounds that filled the room or that the room shook or even that the people were amazed. Not even the fact that the original eleven Disciples and Matthias were speaking in 15 Languages. Those are but descriptive side notes. None of that is central to the message, what is fundamental is that the Twelve first gathered there as Disciples, received the Holy Spirit and became Apostles undertaking the Great Commission at that very moment. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to spread the Gospel to people of all nations under heaven. Before Pentecost, the Twelve were 'mere' Disciples. After being filled with the Holy Spirit the Apostles and championed the Gospel as they began their Christian Ambassadorships to the known world.
Well, have we all become more confused than ever? Part of an old expression is applicable here and it goes, “It ain't easy.”As a layman's recap of these titles, situationally the identifiers of Believers, Followers, Christians, Disciples, Saints, and Apostles may be interchangeable. But there also is an order of merit and how the individuals use their talents and empowerment.
Please do not take the following categories and suppositions to be anything more than hopefully helpful explanations. I am just trying to provide a general feel for the different titles when they are not used in interchangeability.
The baseline group of all the saved would identify Believers, Followers, and Christians as being coequal. People that come to church and receive the message and participate in church events and serve on committees. Certainly, this group is firmly within the Body of Christ.
Disciples are more serious students of the Holy Gospel and do more to reflect the life teachings of Christ. Disciples are the people who give more of their time to the functioning of the Church, head up committees and even teach Bible Studies.
Apostles are even more scholarly or more outward going seeking out opportunities to actively bring more people to Christ. Apostles are sent or go out to deliver and extended those teachings to others as found in Acts chapter 4, verse 33-34 “With great power, the Apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.”Both Jesus and the Apostles sent forth into the 1st century's pluralistic religious world, proclaimed without apology the exclusive claims of Christ as the only way to the Father, calling on all persons everywhere to repent or perish (Luke chapter 13, verse 3; John chapter 14, verse 6; Acts chapter 4, verse 12.
Questions for your consideration. Were any of the primary Old Testament characters Apostles?
Could you call all the writers of the New Testament Apostles?
The faithful in Christ will become Saints in Heaven. Edicts from the Southern Baptist Convention tell us, as saints one earth there is more to do. Their last line of the Cooperation And The Doctrine Of Salvation, of 2012 states; “RESOLVED, That we encourage all Southern Baptist churches to continue in faithful cooperation as we deepen our commitment to equip the saints and reach the lost with the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In my opinion, that's what all Christians should do!
The following lines are just for thoughtful enjoyment. Modify them or add your own witticisms.
All Disciples are Believers, but not all Believers are Disciples, not all Disciples are Apostles.
Believers worship God on Sundays, Disciples worship God most the time, Apostles take the word to non-Believers so they may come to salvation.
Believers wait for bread and fish, Disciples repair the nets and Apostle are the true fishermen.
Believers fight to grow, Disciples add fertilizer and Apostles seek to new fields to prepare for harvest.
Believers have the gift of the Holy Spirit, Disciples work for the Holy Spirit and Apostles are filled with it.
The Believers sustains their life with spiritual milk (Heb 5, verse 12), The Disciple are weaned to serve and teach while the Apostles are fully empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Believers tithe some of their earnings, Disciples do that also and add their precious time, Apostles devote their lives to the Lord.
Believers look for encouragement when weak, Disciples know when they are weak, they are strong. Apostles freely share their lives and endure many hardships so other can find their strength in Jesus.
Believers wait for tasks to be assigned to them, Disciples take ownership in assuming responsibilities and Apostles never quit searching to save souls.
Believers complain they aren’t visited or something not right about the church. Disciples visits the shut-ins and work to make things better in the Church Apostles seek to make Churches.
Believers look to promises in the Word, Disciples look to fulfill their part in obedience to the Word. Apostles reflect the Word revealed for all to see.
Each Believer counts as one added, Disciples work to assure no Believer is subtracted and Apostles multiply the masses.
Believers are assured of the miracle of their salvation, Disciples are the miracles to their church bodies. Fruits of the Apostles cascade miracles all over the world.
Believers fill the church pews, Disciples fill the positions from daycare to Deacons. Apostles cover the end of the with the Holy Spirit.
Believers make habits, Disciples break the mold and Apostles mold others.
Believers say “hopefully I am”, Disciples say “Here I am”, Apostle say “Let's go forth to preach His Word!”
The Believers are among the flock, the Disciples help tend the sheep, the Apostles look for swine to be glorified as Believers.
Maturing Believers becomes Disciples, maturing Disciples strive to become Apostles to minister the unsaved.
