The Collaborative International Dictionary
Disciple \Dis*ci"ple\, n. [OE. disciple, deciple, OF. disciple, fr. L. discipulus, fr. discere to learn (akin to docere to teach; see Docile) + prob. a root meaning to turn or drive, as in L. pellere to drive (see Pulse).] One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine; as, the disciples of Plato; the disciples of our Savior.
The disciples, or The twelve disciples, the twelve selected companions of Jesus; -- also called the apostles.
Disciples of Christ. See Christian, n., 3, and Campbellite.
Syn: Learner; scholar; pupil; follower; adherent.
Christian \Chris"tian\, n. [L. christianus, Gr. ?; cf. AS. cristen. See Christ.]
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One who believes, or professes or is assumed to believe, in Jesus Christ, and the truth as taught by Him; especially, one whose inward and outward life is conformed to the doctrines of Christ.
The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
--Acts xi. 26. One born in a Christian country or of Christian parents, and who has not definitely becomes an adherent of an opposing system.
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(Eccl.)
One of a Christian denomination which rejects human creeds as bases of fellowship, and sectarian names. They are congregational in church government, and baptize by immersion. They are also called Disciples of Christ, and Campbellites.
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One of a sect (called Christian Connection) of open-communion immersionists. The Bible is their only authoritative rule of faith and practice.
Note: In this sense, often pronounced, but not by the members of the sects, kr[=i]s"chan.
Wikipedia
Disciples is a common word for people who followed Jesus Christ during his lifetime, particularly the Twelve Disciples or the Seventy Disciples.
In modern contexts, the term Disciples of Christ can refer specifically to
- Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement), a Christian group that arose during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century
- Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a current mainline Protestant denomination in North America that is descended from the Campbell movement
The Disciples of Christ were a Christian rap group which originated in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early 1990s. They released three albums for Star Song Records and later formed their own label, We are One/Throne Room Records. Alton Hood and Michael Brown of the group formed Nimisilla Park in 2016, carrying on the D.O.C. tradition of Christian rock and hip hop with a twist of soul.
The Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement) were a group arising during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. The most prominent leaders were Thomas and Alexander Campbell. The group was committed to restoring primitive Christianity. It merged with the Christians (Stone Movement) in 1832 to form what is now described as the American Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement).
Usage examples of "disciples of christ".
The sacred college was raised to the definite number of seventy-two, to represent, under his vicar, the disciples of Christ.
It was given out that those who were in attendance at the meeting should receive an endowment or blessing similar to that experienced by the disciples of Christ on the day of Pentecost.
The label seems almost sacred to many of us in evangelical Christianity, but keep in mind the only thing that made the twelve disciples of Christ sacred was the One they followed.
Its name occurs several times in the Bible, one or two of the disciples of Christ visited it, and here was located one of the original seven apocalyptic churches spoken of in Revelations.