“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:42-47

Koinōnia is a Greek noun that translates to English as “fellowship” in this passage of Acts.[1]  But Koinōnia has deeper meaning than simply a group of people socializing or sharing a meal together, it is a bond for a united purpose [2] which in the context of scripture, is to pursue godliness, bring glory to God, and fulfill the commandment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28).  Koinōnia is an intimate fellowship that shows joint participation, community, and partnership.[3]  This type of fellowship can also be translated as communion with “the Holy Spirit in a common interest and activity in the things of God.”[4]

Koinōnia is also used in Romans 15:26, 2 Corinthians 8:4, Galatians 2:9, Philippians 1:5, Hebrews 13:6, and 1 John 1:7 to describe the fellowship of believers[5].  It’s also used in 1 Corinthians 1:9, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Philippians 2:1, and 1 John 1:3[6] to describe the intimate fellowship that Christians experience with God through His son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

Koinōnia is not only the socialization of believers, it is the intentional fellowship of worship, sharing of meals, studying the Word, prayer, and bearing one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) as a group, and, in our eyes, as a family.  Studying the Bible together, opening-up about our lives and allowing others to speak into them, and praying over each other, requires a teachable spirit, it requires hearts that are honest, humble, and hopeful.

The goal of Koinōnia is to do ministry together.  To build, engage, serve, and grow as one body in Christ.  That is our common purpose.  We seek to lift each other up close to Christ, to honor one another, to live in harmony (Romans 12:6 & 1 Peter 3:8) have compassion for one another (Ephesians 4:32), encourage on another, spur one another on toward good deeds (Hebrews 10:24-25), to confess when we have sinned and forgive those who sin against us (Matthew 6:12-15, Matthew 18:22).  Finally, we seek to offer open hospitality, never acting exclusively, but constantly letting Christ shine outwardly through us and seeking to share the Gospel in our community.

Koinōnia
Know God ~ Love God ~ Believe God ~ Trust God ~ Obey God

 

Published by: Alibrandi Dawn

Bibliography

“G2842 – koinōnia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible. Accessed 10 May 2017. https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G2842&t=KJV

Wuest, Kenneth Samuel. Word studies in the Greek New Testament. 1955.

Pope, Kyle. “‘Fellowship in the Gospel’: A Study of the Greek Word Koinonia” Biblical Insights 4.7 (July 2004): 4-5.

The New King James Bible. (1979). Thomas Nelson Inc.

 

Footnotes:
[1] Pope, Kyle. “‘Fellowship in the Gospel’: A Study of the Greek Word Koinonia” Biblical Insights 4-5.

[2] Pope, Kyle. “‘Fellowship in the Gospel’: A Study of the Greek Word Koinonia” Biblical Insights 4-5.

[3] “G2842 – koinōnia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible.

[4] Wuest, Kenneth Samuel. Word studies in the Greek New Testament

[5] “G2842 – koinōnia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible.

[6] “G2842 – koinōnia – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible.