It is unfortunate that our English (and other) translations often rob the original languages of Scripture of their rich meaning.
I recently encountered a concept that our word “fellowship”, translated from the Greek word “koinonia”, means that actually fleshes out ”fellowship” to be much more than what we understand it to be.
We see fellowship as a word that describes what we share in common as God’s children…especially when we meet together with a common purpose. We “fellowship” around coffee and eats in the church building, doing things that express our togetherness. We fellowship around God’s word when we meet on a Sunday. We even have fellowship with another person through a phone-call or a message from our homes.
The most important idea is that we share the same faith in Jesus…and it’s this that binds us together.
The Bible uses “kononia” and its related words in a much broader sense. This word is actually an accounting word, relating especially to money. How can this idea be connected to our life as believers?
“Kononia” is used in the New Testament in a variety of ways, circling around the sharing of our money. Let me illustrate.
“All the believers were together and had everything in common…(“koinos”…fellowship”). They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”
Acts 2:44-45 NIV
The early Christians pooled their resources so that no one had need. This is fellowship.
The Philippian church fully participated with Paul in his ministry…
“Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners (“kononia”) in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.”
Philippians 1:4-5 NLT
They also took care of Paul’s financial needs…
“Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
Philippians 4:15-18 NIV
Paul describes the generosity of the Philippians in accounting terms. They shared their resources with Paul when he was in prison. This was both worship and fellowship…
To the Hebrew believers…
“And do not forget to do good and to share (“koinonia”… fellowship) with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
Hebrews 13:16 NIV
Fellowship is more than meeting together periodically. It’s about doing life together in all its aspects, experiences, and needs…expressed in English words like communion, partnership, collection…all translating “koinonia” in context… but there’s more.
Fellowship starts with the solid foundation of our relationship with Jesus.
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship (“koinonia”) of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,”
Philippians 3:10 NKJV
Being a Christian is so much more than having a free pass to heaven. It’s about participating in every part of the life of Jesus, including the parts that are painful, inconvenient, or undesirable.
“and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Romans 8:17 NKJV
Our partnership (fellowship) with fellow-believers in the body of Christ is rooted in our intimate union with Jesus…that includes sharing in His death and resurrection…all the suffering and overcoming that His death means…as well as sharing in the glory that is to follow. Without this foundation, our fellowship in the body of Christ is nothing but plastic fruit…a pretence, not the powerful reality that sets us apart from the world as the true children of God.
We can only experience true fellowship in the body of Christ as we participate fully in the shared life of His people…rejoicing and suffering with each other as one “loaf”…one body with many parts.
“Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf.”
1 Corinthians 10:17 NIV
There is no other group of people on earth that is intimately bound together in a shared life than Jesus’ body because…first, we are one with Him…sharing in His life…and, second, because we are one with each other, sharing our lives and resources with one another as one body.
The love of God through Jesus is the glue that binds us together.
“I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”
John 17:22-23 NLT