For us to see whether there is a difference between disciple and believer or not, we must rely on the Bible for answers. The Bible at no point drew a line of difference between disciples and believers. The term disciples occurred many times in the Bible, whereas the term believers occurred just twice in the Bible (KJV), appearing in the writings of Luke and Paul. There is no difference between these themes for they are the same and can be used interchangeably to refer to Christians.
In the writings of Luke
In the days of Jesus, those who believed in Him and became his followers were called disciples. There were the twelve disciples, the seventy disciples, and then the general disciples. Even after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, the term disciples did not disappear. Those who came to believe in Jesus later – those who heard the gospel, repented, and believed in Jesus were still referred to as disciples in the writings of Luke in the Book of Acts.
In Acts chapter 6, Luke records that when the disciples were increasing in number, the Greek disciples complained against the Hebrew disciples that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. So the twelve apostles summoned all the disciples and said,
“2 It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:2-3).”
They did exactly that; some twelve people were selected to do the distribution of food and the apostles dedicated their time to prayer and preaching of the gospel as planned. Their preaching resulted in many people repenting and believing in Jesus. Luke recorded that many people converted to Christianity. And Luke referred to these converts as disciples. He wrote,
“Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7)”
In Acts chapter 5, after the death of Ananias and Sapphira, the apostles continued to do signs and wonders and healing in Jerusalem, and many people converted to Christianity around that time. Luke recorded this phenomenal conversion of many people. However, this time, he did not use the term disciples as before, rather, he used the term believers to refer to these converts. He wrote:
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, (Acts 5:12-14)
Luke was the one who wrote both Acts 6:7 and Acts 5:12-14. In these verses, he referred to some converts as disciples and others as believers And he did not differentiate between these two terms he used – disciples and believers. He did not state that believers and disciples are different categories of followers of Jesus. Neither did any of the Christian fathers who contributed to the writing of the Bible write anything to differentiate between these two terms. The terms believers and disciples are one and the same, for they are used to refer to people who have believed in Jesus and have converted to the Christian faith.
Paul’s letter to Timothy
Paul wrote a letter to his son in Christ, Timothy, and he taught him how he should conduct himself before the followers of Jesus in the Church of Ephesus. Paul wrote,
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).
Normally, Paul uses the term brethren to refer to his fellow Christians. He never used the term disciples in his epistles, but just once he used the term believers to refer to the Christians of the church in Ephesus. The term believers, much like Christians, had apostolic approval. Apart from Luke, the Apostle Paul also used it to refer to Christians and followers of Jesus.
Clearing the ambiguity
I believe that around the 5th to 4th century BCE in India, a man called Siddhattha Gotama was born, lived, and died. He is popularly known today as the Buddha and he was a philosopher and a religious leader who founded Buddhism. So I believe that the Buddha once existed.
But I am not a believer in the Buddha, for I do not believe in him; as in I do not call upon his name, nor pray to him, nor follow his teachings, nor consider him as my savior or God or teacher like how Buddhists do. Would you call me a believer in Buddha? Certainly not. I also believe that for some time in the past, people like Muhammed, Nanak, Joseph Smith, etc. lived and died. However, I am not a believer in them, for I do not believe in them nor follow their teachings.
I have met a lot of people who admit that Jesus once existed and was a good and wise man, yet they do not acknowledge Him as their Savior, nor keep His word, nor call upon Him as Christians do. Would you call such people believers in Jesus? Certainly not. I have also met people who even admit that Jesus is the Son of God, etc. yet they are circular or are affiliated to other religions. This should not come as a surprise to you at all for even demons admit that Jesus is the Son of God (Mark 1:24; Mark 5:7). Even Muslims believe in Jesus: they believe He is a prophet, a miracle worker, etc. However, we do not count them as believers in Jesus at all. Why? It is because they follow the ways and teachings of Muhammed.
So who are the believers in Jesus? Believers in Jesus are also the disciples of Jesus who acknowledge Him as their Lord and Savior and follow His teachings and call upon Him.
What is wrong with attempting to differentiate between believers and disciples?
The use of the term believers to refer to followers of Jesus Christ has been there since the days of the apostles. Even the apostle Paul used it to refer to the followers of Jesus in Ephesus and did not see the term to be different from disciples. If those who were there at the time the term believers started did not see any difference between disciples and believers, why should anyone attempt differentiating them now?
Any attempt to draw a line of difference between a disciple of Jesus and a believer arouses a lot of questions. If disciples and believers are two different categories of followers of Jesus, then:
- When and how does one become a believer or a disciple of Jesus?
- Which one of them is saved, a disciple or a believer?
- Which ones are genuine followers of Jesus, believers or disciples?
- Which one of them has the infilling of the Holy Spirit, a believer or a disciple?
- Which ones are called children of God, disciples or believers?
- Which one of them will go to heaven, a believer or a disciple?
- Etc.
Conclusion
Both terms, disciple and believer, are used in the Bible, and as far as the Bible is concerned, there is no trace of difference between them, but they are the same. The terms disciples and believers are synonymous, for one can be used in place of the other. Both terms are used to refer to followers of Jesus Christ.