disciple / follower
Loading your saved state.
disciple
In a religious context, a student and follower of a spiritual or religious leader, especially one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ in Christianity.
Im Neuen Testament wird berichtet, wie Jesus seine zwölf Jünger berief.
The New Testament tells how Jesus called his twelve disciples.
follower
In a figurative sense, a loyal and devoted follower of a particular person, idea, artistic movement, or philosophy.
Als junger Architekt war er ein glühender Jünger von Le Corbusier.
As a young architect, he was an ardent follower of Le Corbusier.
The word 'Jünger' (disciple/follower) is closely related to the adjective 'jung' (young). It originally describes a younger student who learns from an older, experienced master.
Der junge Maler sah sich als Jünger des berühmten Künstlers.
The young painter saw himself as a follower of the famous artist.
To express whom or which idea someone follows, the preposition 'von' with the dative is almost always used. The structure is therefore: 'ein Jünger von jemandem/etwas' (a follower of someone/something).
Er ist ein treuer Jünger von Sigmund Freuds Theorien.
He is a loyal follower of Sigmund Freud's theories.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. In a religious context (church, Bible, Jesus), it refers to the original followers. In secular contexts (art, science, philosophy), it has a figurative meaning.
Die Jünger verbreiteten die Lehren von Jesus nach seinem Tod.
The disciples spread the teachings of Jesus after his death.
In its figurative meaning, 'Jünger' (follower) often sounds very formal or even somewhat old-fashioned. It describes a very deep, almost unconditional devotion that is stronger than that of a normal 'fan'.
Die treuesten Jünger des Autors kauften jedes seiner Bücher sofort nach Erscheinen.
The author's most loyal followers bought each of his books as soon as it was published.
student / pupil
Schüler can refer to someone who learns from a particular master or teacher. In a religious context, Jünger additionally means a follower of a spiritual leader and is especially common in established religious terms. Schüler fits a purely learning-based relationship, while Jünger is used for religious allegiance.
Der Jünger folgte dem geistlichen Lehrer und verbreitete seine Botschaft.
The disciple followed the spiritual teacher and spread his message.
Der Schüler lernte viele Jahre bei dem geistlichen Lehrer.
The student learned from the spiritual teacher for many years.
