discipleship
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for discipleship, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — In Christianity, the practice of following Jesus as a learner and living by his teaching, and the process by which believers are taught and formed to do so.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
In Christianity, the practice of following Jesus as a learner and living by his teaching, and the process by which believers are taught and formed to do so.
“The church runs a discipleship course for new members.”
2. noun
The state of being a disciple of any teacher, leader or school of thought, and the loyalty and study that go with it.
“Her years of discipleship under the old master shaped every painting she made.”
How to Use Discipleship
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Chiefly religious, particularly Protestant and evangelical usage.
Etymology
From disciple, via Old French from Latin discipulus 'pupil, learner', from discere 'to learn', plus the noun suffix -ship denoting state or condition.
Full origin of discipleship →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between discipleship and evangelism?
Evangelism is telling people the Christian message in the hope they will believe it. Discipleship is what follows: teaching, mentoring and forming those who do believe so that their lives and habits change over time.
What does discipleship actually involve in practice?
Typically regular study of scripture, prayer, meeting in a small group or with a mentor, and putting the teaching into practice in ordinary life. Many churches structure it as a course, but the word covers the lifelong process rather than a set programme.