“… that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” – 1 John 1:3
When I first heard the word koinonia at church, I said to myself: “Wow, what in the world is that?” Forgive my ignorance, but I confess that it took me a while to memorize this word and pronounce it correctly, because I had never heard that term in Spanish, and I was already learning a word in Greek. The term is used in the church to designate the gatherings, outside the regular worship service, where a snack is eaten and time is shared with a select group of brothers and sisters. Sometimes the whole church takes part in one of these gatherings, usually in summer, when we go to the parks and have a picnic, and between one barbecue and the next, some play and others chat.
However, going a little deeper, to the very essence of the word koinonia, we will find that it is not limited to a church activity, a summer picnic, or casual meetings of ministry groups, but is an operation in the Spirit carried out by the Father, to unify his chosen ones in his holy purpose through fellowship, first with him, and then with our neighbor. This divine operation is manifested in several prominent aspects of the church that I never imagined had anything to do with it. That is why I invite you to come with me and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, let us explore together the true meaning of koinonia.
When I began to write this reflection, and was thinking about koinonia, the first Bible passage that kept coming to my mind was: “How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor 14:26). This verse speaks to us of the gathering of the brethren, but to my surprise the word koinonia was not contained in that passage. The Greek word that is translated as “come together,” from gathering, is the word sunérjomai (4905), which means to come together, to depart in company with, to join, to accompany, to throng together, to congregate, to assemble, even to cohabit (as a married couple), but notice that it does not speak of fellowship. And it is true: how many can be together in one place, even sleep in the same bed, and have their minds divided, and in their hearts be very far from one another.
Then I thought of unanimity—yes, that’s it! I said to myself… The ideal model… The first church! There I will find the word koinonia… “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place. […] “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” (Acts 2:1, 46); or in that plea of the apostle Paul at the end of his days, I seem to see him saying: “make my joy complete, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind” (Phil 2:2 R60). But no, I did not find the word koinonia there either, because what the Bible sometimes translates as unanimity or “with one accord” is the Greek word jomodsumadón (3661), which is an adverb, something that speaks to us of manner, of doing something in agreement, with unanimity. It is also the same word that is used in narrating the moment of the death of the first martyr of our faith, Stephen, while he was describing the vision of the heavens opened and they “… cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord” (Acts 7:57). That “with one accord” was the unanimity, the agreement they had to beat him and stone him to death… No, neither in unanimity nor in agreement is koinonia to be found.
I almost run out of arguments… My head feels like it is going to burst… I perceive something great that brushes against my spirit, and that I cannot decipher… But then, what is koinonia? Defining it would close off a little of this spiritual flood that overwhelms me. But koinonia is not something that can be defined in words per se, although we can extract it from certain relationships and actions among Christians, because it is not something limited to a social activity, but a spiritual bond whose ends begin and end in the Lord. Therefore, koinonia is a concept that, because of its spiritual nature, translates into fellowship, into participation in something indivisible, such as fellowship with God and in God.
The Greek word koinonia comes from the word koinos (2839), which means something common, and from which other terms are derived, such as koinonós -partner (Luke 5:10), koinonéo -generous (Rom. 12:13), koinonikós -giving (1 Tim. 6:18). The term koinos, “common” (in its positive sense, because it also designates something unclean), originally means “to belong to the group,” which Paul uses to designate the “common faith” (Titus 1:4), and Jude our “common salvation” (Jude 1:3); and of the first church it is said that “they had all things in common” (Acts 2:44; 4:32). In the root of the word koinonia I see two aspects that speak to me of a spiritual fellowship and one that shows me a material fellowship, the latter necessarily depending on the first two. That is, to have koinonia with another person, she and I have to have two things in common: faith and salvation. Starting from this fact, I can also have my possessions in common.
I believe that, at this point, our Master would say to us: “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34), because I feel we have reached the heart of the matter. Koinonia shows us three important aspects of fellowship: 1. Faith in God and in his Son Jesus Christ; 2. The salvation we share with the brethren; and 3. Our participation in service to others. Let us meditate for a moment.
The Greek word koinonós (partner), which is also translated as associate (partner), designates someone who takes part in a business or has goods in common with another person. That being so, we find this word in the Word, where we may well substitute associate with partner or participant: “you are partakers of the sufferings” (2 Cor 1:7); “if you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me” (Phlm 1:17); partakers of the glory (1 Pet. 5:1); partakers of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4). There is another Greek term related to that word whose root is not koinós, and it is métojos (3353), which designates someone who is a participant, and of whose six meanings most refer to our participation in the divine nature in Christ: we are companions of Christ; partakers of the heavenly calling; partakers of Christ; and partakers of the Holy Spirit (Heb 1:9; 3:1, 14; 6:4). It is that participation in the divine nature and, at the same time, that mutuality of spirit with my brother that gives us a fellowship that transcends external and temporary differences and produces koinonia.
It is that fellowship that leads the church into a practical koinonia. Otherwise it would be koinonitis, a selfish attitude, centered on ourselves. In other words, I relate to you for what you do, because you are a leader, because you are a minister, because you are the pastor’s right hand, you are at the altar, etc. The point is that when one of those conditions disappears, the companionship also vanishes, the friendship cools, even the “brotherhood” comes to an end, no matter how many years we have shared together, supposedly of one accord. If we are honest, we must admit that there was never a true relationship or fellowship there. That prayer of our Lord: “that they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you sent me” (John 17:21), makes sense when our koinonia is truly manifested in fellowship and participation. I conclude, then, that if our koinonia lacks this fellowship with the Father and the Son, our participation with the Holy Spirit, and our brotherhood or partnership with the brother, it would be no more than a theoretical fiction completely devoid of meaning. Koinonia is something spiritual that becomes visible when:
- we continue steadfastly in fellowship with one another (Acts 2:42)
- we give for the poor (Rom 15:26)
- we participate in the service to the saints (2 Cor 8:4)
- we contribute generously to all; (2 Cor 9:13)
- we give a sign of fellowship to those who are set apart for the ministry (Gal 2:9)
- And we do not forget to do good and mutual help (Heb 13:16)
- we have fellowship with one another (1 John 1:7)
I have heard many messages, and our pastors also say it when preaching, that the greatest betrayal in the Bible was Peter’s denial at the moment when the Master needed him most. “Even if all are made to stumble because of you, I will never be made to stumble. […] Even if I have to die with you, I will not deny you” (Matt 26:35; 26:33), the disciple blustered, making a show of his unconditional love. And hearing him so convincing, all the other disciples said the same, and they were the first to run when they faced the persecution. But Peter tried to hold to his words, and followed the escort that was taking Jesus to the high priest. He went in as far as the courtyard, but when he was identified by those who were there, he denied Jesus, even with curses, once, twice, three times, and then he heard the rooster crow for the first time (Matt 26:74). Yet the Bible never shows that there was murmuring in the church about his conduct. Neither does it say that they rejected him, nor that they confronted him. What it says is that he was received as always. Yes, Peter wept bitterly, he felt the sharp pain of sin, but the love of God was greater than his fall. And when I say that the brethren received him, I am not talking about condoning or supporting bad behavior, but that, in spite of Peter’s misstep, he did not lose the fellowship, the koinonia with his brethren, but was able to return and fulfill his ministry.
There is a word in the Old Testament that refers to the fellowship we have been talking about, and it is the Hebrew word sod (5475), which denotes secret, friendship, close relationship, and intimate knowledge, and it is used only twice with that connotation of intimacy. “The intimate fellowship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and he will make them know his covenant. […] For the LORD abhors the perverse; but his intimate fellowship is with the righteous” (Ps 25:14; Prov 3:32). That intimate fellowship of God with the Christian translates into the fellowship that you and I have with our brothers and sisters in the faith. For as John well says: “If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not practice the truth” (1 John 1:6). There is no true koinonia if we do not have fellowship first with God and then with our brethren. That is why God’s forgiveness is conditioned on how we forgive those who offend us.
Up to this point it has been wonderful to see a broader aspect of a concept that had remained so superficial to me. I have understood that it is necessary for me to cultivate fellowship with God so that my relationship with my brethren does not depend on external circumstances, but is based on things as unshakable as faith and love for God. Now, the next time I celebrate the Lord’s Supper or gather with you to worship, to contribute, to give offerings, to share, or to serve, I will look beyond the tangible, to celebrate forever our koinonia in the Lord.
