What iskoinonia?

The Greek word (koinonia) and its cognate words occur 39 times in the New Testament and are translated variously as fellowship, communion, distribution, partner, partaker, companion. All the ideas conveyed in these English words are embodied in the original word. The main thought is "sharing in common," i.e., partnership.

The word “Koinonia,” meaning to share a thing in common, is translated in the New Testament nineteen times—twelve times as “Fellowship,” four times as “Communion,” and once as “Communication,” “Contribution,” “Distribution.”

κοινωνία. This in scripture is association, and having things in common. The Lord's table is where the fellowship of Christians is expressed — all there being associated in the fellowship of Christ's death. Being thus associated, proper Christian fellowship is in the light of God fully revealed — the Father and the Son. The apostles specially made known the truth of this fellowship as specially given to know it. 1 John 1:3. Being brought into such association, it follows that as regards the gospel for the world, the welfare of the saints, and the maintenance of the truth, the believer has the same aims and objects before his soul as the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have. Out of this flows the fellowship of the saints one with another. Acts 2:42; 2 Cor. 8:4: Gal. 2:9; 1 John 1:3-7. It is also called the fellowship of the Spirit. 2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1. The converse of this is also true: Christians cannot consistently have any fellowship with that which is evil or which brings dishonour upon the Lord Jesus. Ps. 94:20; 1 Cor. 10:20; 2 Cor. 6:14; Eph. 5:11.

We must link Verse 5 with Verse 3: "I thank my God upon all my remembrance of you … for your fellowship in the interests of the Gospel, from the first day until now." We have already spoken of the seven times we find FELLOWSHIP linked with the Philippian saints: but what is fellowship, as used in the New Testament? The Greek word for it comes from the word used for "partners" in Luke 5:10. James and John were partners with Simon in the fishing business. I believe in the New Testament fellowship always means a relation between persons, based on Christian unity: perhaps "Joint Participation" is one of the best definitions of the meaning. When Lydia received Paul and his company into her house, she was having joint participation in the Gospel: when Paul was preaching in Thessalonica, and the Philippian saints sent him gifts (Phil. 4:16) they were having joint participation in the Gospel, or, "fellowship in the Gospel."

Now the Apostle gives thanks for this fellowship in the Gospel from the first day until "the now," the present moment. Sometimes the saints grow weary of sharing in the Gospel; adversity comes; evil reports are spread; there are heavy demands at home; and the fellowship in the Gospel grows cold. It is generally the poor, like the Philippians, who have that unceasing fellowship in the Gospel, that never grows weary. Indeed, Paul could not accept this fellowship in the Gospel from the rich saints in Corinth, who were going on badly. See 2 Cor. 11:7-12. But what is so precious is that unwearying fellowship, that never loses heart; through evil report and good report; through dark days and bright; through poverty and prosperity: that is the fellowship in the Gospel that the Philippian saints had.

You remember David made it a rule that those who went down to the battle, and those who tarried by the stuff, should share alike: they were having joint participation in the war. But gifts are not the only way of showing fellowship in the Gospel: there are countless other ways. Epaphras laboured fervently in prayer: and so may we. What a cheer an encouraging letter is! Some hold the hats of those preaching in the open air; some help with the singing: some bring friends to the meetings. Love of the Gospel, and love of the One who is the theme of the Gospel, will devise means to have a share in the interests of the Gospel. And, "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His Name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister." (Heb. 6:10).

But, sad to say, not all in Paul's day had fellowship in the Gospel. There were those who preached Christ even of envy and strife, supposing to add affliction to the Apostle. They probably were real Christians, and they preached Christ: but they had not fellowship in the Gospel. There have always been such, and there always will be. Let us take heed when we find even true Christians seeking to add affliction to those who preach the Gospel, rather than having fellowship in the Gospel. It is so easy to find fault, and those who do so, often know little of the true circumstances. I need hardly add that we cannot have fellowship with what is contrary to the Word. But let us beware lest our criticisms are merely an excuse for our lack of fellowship "in the interests of the Gospel." Let us each one, Beloved, seek more and more to imitate these dear Philippian saints in their fellowship in the interests of the Gospel!

Through the apostles' teaching we are brought together by the Spirit's power under the attraction of the pre-eminent Christ. This fellowship, divinely formed, is regulated by the apostolic teaching. Fellowship is a "sharing together," a joint participation. In our case it is related to the acknowledgment of the Lordship of Jesus, and in the light and enjoyment of what is revealed in Him as Son of God — "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord."

The word occurs in a number of passages through the New Testament, and in various connections. Thus we have fellowship or communion (the same word in the Greek) of God's Son, of His body and blood, of His sufferings; with the Father and His Son. Here evidently the thought is sharing in the benefits, or in the experiences, or in the companionship. Similarly we have the same root used in such passages as "they were partners with Simon," "partakers of the altar," "companions of those who suffered," "partaker of the glory," "partakers of the divine nature." The liberality of the saints was called fellowship.

What is fellowship? In our day, the word is often used to denote 'togetherness', but the New Testament does not limit it in this way. It refers to what two or more people have in common. We can have fellowship with the apostles because they reported to us what they heard and saw concerning the Son of God. We, his readers, cannot have a 'get-together' with the apostle John - but we can be absolutely certain that we have in common with him an appreciation of Christ based on all that he had seen and heard. In the same way we can enjoy 'the teaching and fellowship of the apostles' (Acts 2:42) even though they are no longer here.

"Fellowship" (ver. 3) is association of heart, of thoughts, of affections, and of joy.

[*Fellowship, or communion, means the association of two of more together, having common thoughts and feelings together.]

"Fellowship of his Son," which follows just after, means having a part together, and with Christ (koinonia) and in the blessings that are with Him. Partaking (metokee) is not communion (koinonia), which last is a closer thing. I partake of a thing, and in that measure have it in common with another. It is more in the character of communication. For instance in Hebrews 2:14 we have the difference in an important case. "Forasmuch, then, as the children were partakers of [kekoinoneken] flesh and blood [because we all had it, it is all in common], he also himself likewise took part [metesken], of the same." Some misused it to teach that He took sinful flesh, which is nowhere said; but Christ did take flesh and blood. In Luke 5 the two words are used in a general way. "They beckoned to their partners" [metokois], v. 7, while [koinonoi], v. 10, shews they had common share, with nothing very definite for distinction. Words are used sometimes in a less, sometimes in a more, definite sense. We use a great number of words which have merely a different shade of meaning without an intention of making a difference. You might say, They both live in the same place, or in the same locality, but you do not mean another thought. Locality is the more general term. So going shares or partnership might have a shade of difference.