What did Jesus mean when he wanted all his followers to be diciples? The answer to this question becomes especially interesting from those people who may think that the word and perhaps even the concept is a theological mayfly.

So you don't think it is just a theological jargon? What is it then?

I think it is a word that atempts to capture the essence of what it means in daily life to "take up ones cross and follow Jesus, having counted the cost and found the price acceptable in relation to the immence worth of the hidden treasure". I think it is a word that is synonymous to being an apprentice of God. I think it is propably a word that describes the people we read about in the missionary story every week in church.

Jesus said you need to hate your father, mother, wife, etc. in order to be a disciple?

How could Jesus make such a statement?

In Icelandic the lessons are called "Apostleship". Is apostleship and discipleship actually the same?

Are we called to be disciples, or do we volunteer?

What kind of a relationship is essential to be a disciple?

The way that it is worded in the Good News Bible answers that question:

We are called to be disciples, and only after we have been called can we respond.

My simple understanding is that a disciple is one who follows - is disciplined - by his teacher. In old times, there were many teachers who had disciples. The disciples of Christ were eventually called Christians.