Greek mathetes, disciple / learner / pupil, the principal NT term for the follower of a teacher and particularly the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. The semantic base is simple: a mathetes is one who learns from a master-teacher. The NT use builds on this base to develop the substantive theological category of Christian discipleship. The Lord Jesus's call to discipleship is comprehensive: if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me (Matthew 16:24); whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple (Luke 14:27); continue ye in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed (John 8:31); by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another (John 13:35). The Great Commission charges the apostles to make disciples [matheteusate, the verbal form] of all nations (Matthew 28:19, the supreme commission verb). The book of Acts uses mathetes as the standard designation of all believers (Acts 6:1, 7; 9:1, 10, 19, 25, 26, 36, 38; etc.); the Antioch church first received the name Christianoi (Christians), but the term mathetes remains the standard until late in Acts. The Reformed-confessional reading recovers mathetes as the comprehensive category: every Christian is a disciple, called to learn from Christ, formed under His teaching, identified by His marks (cross-bearing, obedience to His word, love of the brethren), and engaged in the great commission task of making more disciples.