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Did Jesus say, "teach" or "make disciples"?

It doesn't seem that these are the same thing. So, then, it may not be a small difference.

For instance, just as an example, "sowing seed" is different than "giving the increase".

(Isn't teaching more like sowing seed?)

Evidently, the word in question can be either/or...but, it doesn't seem appropriate to use it interchangeably (rather, to use it, according to the intended meaning.)

◄ 3100. mathéteuó ► Lexical Summary mathéteuó: To make a disciple, to teach, to instruct. Original Word: μαθητεύω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mathéteuó Pronunciation: math-ayt-yoo'-o Phonetic Spelling: (math-ayt-yoo'-o) KJV: be disciple, instruct, teach NASB: become a disciple, made disciples, make disciples Word Origin: [from G3101 (μαθητής - disciples)]

  1. (intransitively) to become a pupil
  2. (transitively) to disciple, i.e. enrol as scholar

(Mt 28:19 KJV) Go ye therefore, and teach* all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost

(Thank you for any insight.)

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The distinction between the two broad meanings of matheteuo in Matt 28:19 are less important than it first appears. The reason is simple

First, the word literally means either:

  1. (Intrasitively) to become a student or pupil or
  2. (Transitively) to make a disciple or enroll as a scholar, or even better, enroll as an apprentice

Further, Jesus Himself appears to make a distinction between this verb and the usual verb for teaching, namely, didasko (G1321) in V20:

[Mat 28:20 KJV] 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.

Lastly, matheteuo means far more than simply teaching. Technically it refers to the process of training a Craftsman in a trade, the object of which was to train the traineree to imitate a master-craftsman. The extension to spiritual things is obvious - Christians, by definition, are those that imitate the master, i.e., Christ, hence the name Christians which means, one who imitates Christ.

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They mean the same thing.

μαθητεύω (s. μαθητής) 1 aor. ἐμαθήτευσα, pass. ἐμαθητεύθην.

① to be a pupil, with implication of being an adherent of the teacher

ⓐ intr., be or become a pupil or disciple (Plut., Mor. 832b; 837c; Ps.-Callisth. 2, 4, 4 τινί; Iambl., Vi. Pyth. 23, 104 μ. τῷ Πυθαγόρᾳ; schol. on Apollon. Rhod. Proleg. A a) τινί (Orig., C. Cels. 2, 9, 60) of someone (Ἰωσὴφ) ἐμαθήτευσεν τῷ Ἰησοῦ Joseph had become a disciple of Jesus Mt 27:57 v.l. Likew. as

ⓑ pass. dep. (Just., A I, 15, 6; Hippol., Ref. 1, 2, 16) μαθητεύομαι become a disciple τινί: (Ἰ.) ἐμαθητεύθη τῷ Ἰησοῦ Mt 27:57. γραμματεὺς μαθητευθεὶς τῇ βασιλείᾳ τ. οὐρανῶν a scribe who has become a disciple of the kgdm. of heaven or who has been trained for the kgdm. Mt 13:52 (γραμματεύς 2b). Abs. IEph 3:1. μᾶλλον μαθητεύομαι I am becoming a disciple more and more IRo 5:1. This gave rise to a new active form (B-D-F §148, 3; Rob. 800)

② to cause one to be a pupil, teach, trans. (AscIs 3:18 καὶ μαθητεύσουσιν πάντα τὰ ἔθνη καὶ πᾶσαν γλῶσσαν εἰς τὴν ἀν[ά]στασιν τοῦ ἀγαπ[η]τοῦ; Just., D. 53, 1 Χριστὸς … ἐμαθήτευσεν αὐτούς) make a disciple of, teach τινά someone Mt 28:19. ἱκανούς make a number of disciples Ac 14:21. Abs. ἃ μαθητεύοντες ἐντέλλεσθε what you command when you are instructing or winning disciples IRo 3:1.—ὑμῖν μαθητευθῆναι become your disciples, be instructed by you IEph 10:1 (cp. pres. subst. ptc. οἱ μαθητευόμενοι = οἱ μαθηταί Did., Gen. 69, 24; 245, 17; aor. ptc. αἱ δὲ τοῦ θεοῦ Χριστῷ μαθητευθεῖσαι ἐκκλησίαι Orig., C. Cels. 3, 29, 24; Πολύκαρπος … ὑπὸ ἀποστόλων μαθητευθείς Iren. 3, 3, 4 [Harv. II 12, 4]).—DELG s.v. μανθάνω. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., Bauer, W., & Gingrich, F. W. (2000). In A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (3rd ed., p. 609). University of Chicago Press.

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  • Thanks Perry. I've always been taught they are the same, though I am re-examining and seeing it differently now. I appreciate you taking the time to respond. Commented Jan 20 at 21:07
  • Don, in Hebrew Talmud means student, but it also translates the word disciple in the Hebrew translation of the New Testament. Commented Jan 20 at 23:16
  • Hi @PerryWebb You can change the "The" to "They mean the same thing." Commented Jan 25 at 23:04
  • @ Don. Thanks. Done. My typing isn't as good as it used to be. Commented Jan 25 at 23:24
  • @PerryWebb Hello Perry! It looks like Yo-el helped you with that. (My typing isn't as good as it used to be either.) Commented Jan 26 at 0:18