It’s a Greek word. Summathetes. It wasn’t chosen to be showy or provoke conversation or to demonstarte some knowledge of the language. It was chosen because it captures best what this blog is all about.

The “mathetes” part of the word is usually translated by the English word “disciple.” But that word, in some settings, carries baggage. Some use it in an elitist way; others seem to focus on the necessity of certain “disciplines” to qualify to be a disciple. The New Testament uses it to speak of someone who has stepped into a life of “followership.” An intentional and wholistic internship into Jesus’ life.

The “sum” part of the word is a prefix that means “together with.” The compound word is found only once in the New Testament; in John 11:16 when Thomas speaks to his “fellow disciples” about where they should go. (Read the passage; it’s pretty startling!)

So a summathetes is someone who has joined with others to step into a vibrant and intentional apprenticeship into Jesus’ life. And this space on the web is simply intended to be one small spot where that idea can be explored.