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HBO and The Ringer's Bill Simmons hosts the most downloaded sports podcast of all time, with a rotating crew of celebrities, athletes, and media staples, as well as mainstays like Cousin Sal, Joe House, and a slew of other friends and family members who always happen to be suspiciously available.
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This is episode 2 of our Bible in 3D Series. Last time we saw how the Followers-of-Jesus are called to be the Slaves-of-God. Today we are going to see how being a Slave-of-God is more than being a disciple, because a disciple is a learner, and a slave-of-God is a doer, one who acts.
In the New Testament, the word mathetes is only used in the Gospels and the Book of Acts. Acts 21:16 is the last time in the Bible that the word disciple is used.
In Acts as a young man new to faith and ministry, Timothy is called a disciple, a learner. Acts 16:1. See Philippians 1:1; 2:19-24. Years later after Timothy had been taught by Paul and had grown in the faith, Paul describes Timothy to the Christians in Philippi as a slave (doulos) of Christ Jesus that is in Philippians 1:1. Later in his letter, Philippines 2:19-24, Paul tells the Philippines that he has no one working with him was like Timothy and that they knew of Timothy’s "proven worth" because Timothy has “served” with Paul in the gospel. This would seem to be the trend in the New Testament from disciple or learner to servant/slave of God, one who does the work of God.
Paul addresses brothers in Christ, who are always learning but never doing. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 3. Paul calls them out. He says that he can’t call them “spiritual” people because like babies they are still taking milk and not solid food. He admonishes them to grow up, move on, and quit acting like babies, children. Children are cared for. They are full time learning. Adults, on the other hand, take care of and teach the children although no doubt continuing to learn more themselves.
The writer of Hebrews makes a similar point to his readers in Chapter 6. He says that recipients of his letter need to leave the elementary doctrine and instructions of Christ and move on to maturity. This is not to suggest or imply that there is deeper or higher wisdom to learn or that we can disregard the elementary doctrine and instructions. No, this is a strong call that with our feet firmly planted on the elementary doctrine and instructions, we need to start serving. That is, we should become the Slaves-of-God, doing the will of our master.
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