The role of discipleship in the equipping of believers for ministry and growth according to Ephesians 4:12

Abstract

The New Testament often speaks of the church and believers as a growing and maturing body in relationship with Christ, her Head and King. In the Gospels and Acts this relationship between Christ and believers is expressed in terms of discipleship. It is a relationship based on grace through which believers are equipped for ministry, and obedience in following Christ as their King. The terms “disciple” and “making disciples” are not to be found in the Pauline corpus. Does this, therefore, mean that Paul never has discipleship in mind when he speaks of the equipping of believers for growth and ministry in relationship with Christ? Or has Paul in fact adopted the concept of discipleship in his understanding of how the church should be equipped for growth and ministry? This dissertation proposes a New Testament revelation-historical study of the concept “discipleship”, along with thorough exegesis of Ephesians 4:12, to shed light on the role that discipleship should play in the equipping of believers for ministry and growth in the church today.