Didache: Journal of Christian Education
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2026): June

The Teacher as a Shepherd: A Philosophical Metaphor for Transformative Christian Education in Indonesia

Jatmiko, Bakhoh (Unknown)
Zendrato, Juniriang (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
15 Apr 2026

Abstract

This study addressed the gap in understanding the philosophical foundations of Christian education among teachers in Indonesia, emphasizing the need for a transformative approach to teaching. The research aimed to construct the metaphor of “the teacher as a shepherd” to provide a philosophical framework for Christian education in Indonesia. Employing a qualitative, literature-based methodology, the study analyzed biblical texts, educational theories, and prior research on metaphors in education. The findings highlighted 1) the importance of a philosophical foundation in Christian education; 2) the metaphor of the teacher as a shepherd; 3) roles of the Christian teacher as a shepherd; 4) essential qualities of a shepherd-teacher, and 5) transformative learning as the oal. the significance of metaphors in shaping teachers' professional identity and guiding their pedagogical practices. Specifically, the metaphor of a shepherd encapsulates roles such as guiding, protecting, nurturing, and fostering transformative experiences for students. This metaphor aligns with biblical-theological principles and offers a culturally relevant framework for Indonesian Christian educators. The study concluded that adopting the "teacher as a shepherd" metaphor enhances teachers' understanding of their vocation, fostering ethical responsibility and spiritual growth. Recommendation is to conduct long-term research to evaluate the sustained effects of adopting a shepherd-based educational philosophy on teacher behavior and student transformation. The contribution is proposing transformative role for educators.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

DJCE

Publisher

Subject

Religion Arts Education Other

Description

The scopes of this journal published articles are: Christian Education Church Education Philosophy and Christian Education Theology Learning Technology of Christian Education Management of Christian Education. The professionalism of Christian Education ...