Words · Greek Words · Lesson 3, word 5 of 5
κοινωνίαkoinonia
Fellowship: sharing in common, partnership, a real contribution.
Why this word is here. Acts 2:42's word, reduced in church speech to coffee after the service; the lexicon shows participation with obligations, including money.
What it means
Abbott-Smith: fellowship, communion, sharing in something with someone: fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 John 1:3), partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5), participation in Christ's body and blood (1 Corinthians 10:16), fellowship of the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14). And second, a contribution, as the outcome of fellowship: the collection for Jerusalem is itself called a koinonia (Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 8:4).
The root is koinos, common. Koinonia is having something in common so deeply that it moves goods, time and life between people.
Where you meet it
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Acts 2:42 (BSB)
Anchor verse 'They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.' Followed immediately by selling possessions for anyone in need, the fellowship had a wallet.
God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
1 Corinthians 1:9 (BSB)
'You were called into fellowship (koinonia) with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.' The vertical sharing that creates the horizontal one.
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:3 (BSB)
'Our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.'
they earnestly pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.
2 Corinthians 8:4 (BSB)
The Macedonians beg 'for the privilege of sharing (koinonia) in the service to the saints': the word used of a money gift, gladly given.
Why it matters
Koinonia defines the church's common life as participation, not attendance: a shared Christ, a shared table, shared possessions in need. It is also the word for partnership in mission, which dignifies giving as fellowship rather than fundraising.
Watch out
The over-claim is the trivial one, and it is everywhere: 'koinonia just means fellowship, getting together, enjoying each other.' The lexicon's second sense alone refutes the softness: a koinonia can be a bank transfer to starving saints. Warmth is included (Acts 2's glad and sincere hearts), but biblical fellowship is sharing-in: of Christ first, then of bread, goods and suffering (Philippians 3:10, 'the fellowship of His sufferings').
In this lesson
- dikaiosyne (δικαιοσύνη): Righteousness: conformity to God's will, gift and demand.
- hamartia (ἁμαρτία): Sin: wrongdoing and the power that produces it.
- soteria (σωτηρία): Salvation: deliverance, preservation, safety, rescue.
- basileia (βασιλεία): A king's reign first, then his realm: the kingdom of God.
Sources
- Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon (1889)
- STEP Bible lexicon data (Abbott-Smith)
- SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
Review status: in-theological-review. Every Contend page passes a human theological review against the Statement of Faith before it is published as approved teaching. This section is in that queue.