Back in the ’70s we used to talk a lot about “Koinonia.” No, this is not a strange species of fish or a Japanese book store. It is a Greek word that occurs a number of times in the New Testament, mostly in Paul’s writing.
Koinonia essentially means “partnership” but adds a sense of intimacy to that idea. The standard Greek lexicon says that it means “close association involving mutual interests and sharing, association, communion, fellowship, close relationship (hence a favorite expression for the marital relationship as the most intimate between human beings).” When we speak of “marriage partner” we perhaps capture a lot of the idea behind the word.
So it’s interesting to see that the Bible uses this word (koinonia) to name the relationship between Christians. In all the following verses, the word put in italics is actually the Greek word “koinonia.”
- Acts 2:42: And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- I Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
- I Corinthians 10:16: The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a fellowship in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a fellowship in the body of Christ?
- II Corinthians 8:4: … begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints….
- II Corinthians 9:13: By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others….
- II Corinthians 13:14: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
- Galatians 2:9: … and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
- Philippians 1:5: … because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.
- Philippians 3:10: … that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death….
- Philemon 1:6: … and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.
- Hebrews 13:16: Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
- I John 1:3: … that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
- I John 1:6: If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.
- I John 1:7: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
We see from all this that a key aspect of being a Christian is koinoia — the sharing of our lives with one another at a deep level. Unfortunately this is often not the case in our churches.
The reason for this can be summarized in the following principle:
No human institution can be built on love.
What I mean by this is that love cannot be institutionalized or programmed. One cannot produce love by organizational methods, or by setting up an environment such that those who are present will automatically love one another.
Love is a choice. Each person must choose to engage with others in love. One can only speak a Word of love and introduce it as a possibility. “Here is a place where we love one another; you can be part of it, if you want.” And of course as Paul says, “Love must be genuine.”
Institutions and organizations can affect appearances. We can program what people will do in a given setting. But we cannot program hearts.
This is why there is such an onus upon each of us to love one another. Our churches are formed and take shape as the people who are the church choose to love as Christ loved — or fail to do so. If we avoid one another or hold back our lives, we may have a long-lasting human organization but it will not be fully what God intended it to be. If we truly love one another we may just be a brief flash of light in time, but we will be a true light — we will be the true church of God.
Koinonia means that we buy into one another. We allow others access. We open ourselves to one another. We share our lives — “our own selves.” This is more than just a warm fuzzy feeling — though it is true that such feelings are often (but not always) part of what I’m talking about. We enjoy one another — and this is both the means and the reward.
And of course this must happen in a unique way for each group. Again, it cannot be programmed or put down as a set of rules. We can only take the leap of love. But we do so in confidence that by taking that leap we are playing God’s game and following his agenda.
And so the question arises: what does it mean to you to have koinonia with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Is there any way you can make this concrete? Think about it and pray that your love grow more and more each day.