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Disciples should not be confused with the term apostle, meaning "one who is sent" or "ambassador"; while the twelve original disciples of Jesus were all also apostles, the term apostles has an altogether different meaning and function than the term "disciples". All apostles are disciples, but not all disciples are apostles.

While the twelve apostles are the most well known group of people who were identified as disciples of Jesus, there were others: a much larger group of people were identified as disciples in the opening of the passage of the sermon on the plain (an abbreviated Sermon on the Mount) that begins in Luke 6:17. John the Baptist had followers who were called disciples ( John 1:35), as did Isaiah ( Isaiah 8:16). The twelve apostles call a gathering of their own disciples in Acts 6:1-7; there, they had a "multitude" of disciples.

In many versions of Christian theology, discipleship is used to refer to the decision to become a committed follower of the teachings of Jesus. Jesus taught that "as I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ( John 13:34-35, TNIV). The process of becoming a Christian disciple is called the Imitation of Christ in several faith traditions, after the famous book by Thomas à KempisThomas a Kempis ( 1380 1471) was a medieval Christian monk and author of Imitation of Christ one of the most well-known Christian books on devotion. He was born at Kempen, Germany (40 miles northwest of Cologne) in 1380 and died near Zwolle (52 miles east of that title.

There is a modern Christian denominationA Denomination in the Christian sense is an identifiable religious body, organization under a common name, structure, and/or theology. Denominations Christianity, in modern times, exists under diverse names. These variously named groups, Anglicans, Baptis known as the Christian Church ( Disciples of ChristThe Disciples of Christ also known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ or simply as the Christian Church is a denomination of Christian Protestantism based on the teachings of Thomas Campbell and Alexander Campbell of Pennsylvania and Barton W.). They use this name in an effort to emphasize discipleship and Christian unity over adherence to a particular creedThis article is about statements of belief; Creed is also the name of a rock band, and a village in Cornwall A creed is a statement of belief—usually religious belief—or faith. The word derives from the Latin credo for I believe''. Christian creeds Christ or sectA sect is a small religious group that has branched off of a larger established religion. Sects have many beliefs and practices in common with the religion that they have broken off from, but are differentiated by a number of doctrinal differences. In con.