What is "Fellowship"?

Let us look at this Greek word(s) used in your bible... "KOINOS", or "KOINOO". An interesting use of this word related to fellowship is found 27 times in the New Testament. It's meaning is "to defile", "to make unclean", or simply "common to all". This refers to something NOT set apart by or for God.

The Jews considered one to be religiously unclean if he ate without first washing his hands (Mt.7:2). The earliest congregation put all their money into one bank account, so to speak, and "had all things common" (Acts 2:44; 4:32). Peter and the Lord had a discussion concerning meat that was unclean according to the Law. Peter called it common. The Lord warned him not to call anything that he had cleansed common (Acts 10:14-15; 11:9). Paul said that he had learned that "there was nothing unclean of itself" (Rom.14:14).

The author of Hebrews refers to those under the Old Covenant who had become unsanctified by contact with a dead body or some other means as being ritually unclean (Heb.9:13). And he also warns the reader not ever to think of the Spirit of God as a common or unholy thing (Heb.10:29). This means that it is evil to teach that the holy Ghost is something that everyone has. The holy Ghost is not common to all men.

Nothing unholy shall be saved in the end, nor will there be in the new earth anything which makes people unclean. Referring to the New Jerusalem, John wrote, "There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth..." (Rev.21:27). Paul referred to the true gospel as "the common faith" (Tit.1:4), while Jude referred to the way of Christ as the "common salvation" (Jude 3). We should understand these phrases to mean the gospel in which there is a unity among the saints, the gospel that comes from God.

The next word we shall look at is: "KOINONEO". This is the actually a verb form of the word translated fellowship. Interestingly, this word is sometimes used in reference to the giving of money, either to the poor of the congregation (Rom.12:13). A closely related word is translated in 1Tim.6:18 "willing to communicate") or to the ministers of Christ (Gal.6:6; Phip.4:15). As "communication" is a variation of the word "communion", "to communicate" with those who preach the gospel is a form of communion with them and their works. Jesus taught that to give one of his ministers so much as a drink of water was a deed worthy of a great reward (Mt.10:40-42). John forbade the saints to support false teachers, nor to allow them to teach in the house where the saints meet, stating that to do so makes one a partaker of his evil deeds (2Jn.10-11).

Otherwise, it means to share an experience or state. By the gospel Paul preached, the Gentiles were made partakers of the spiritual blessings of the Jews (Rom.15:27). To endorse in any manner the sins of another is to be a partaker of their sins (1Tim.5:22). All humans are partakers of flesh and blood (Heb.2:14). Obedient and persecuted children of God are partakers of Christ's sufferings (1Pet.4:13).

Another word translated fellowship is: "SUN-KOINONEO" With the combining form "with" [sun] this verbal form of the Greek word for fellowship is used three times in the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:11, Paul commands the saints there to have no "fellowship with" the unfruitful works of darkness. By the same inspiration, an angel cries out to God's people to come out of the ways of worship which are not of the Spirit "that ye be not partakers of her sins" (Rev.18:4). But Paul commended the saints at Philippi because they "communicated with" him in his affliction (Phip.4:14).

The next word is: "KOINONIA". The most familiar word which signifies fellowship is this one, koinonia. It, too, may be used in reference to the giving of money to the poor within the congregation (Rom.15:26; 2Cor.8:4; 9:13; Heb.13:16). It is used mostly in reference to the divine unity of spirit, faith, purpose, and understanding which Jesus purchased for believers with his suffering and death (Acts 2:42; 1Cor.1:9-17; 13:14; Eph.3:1-9; Phip.1:5; 2:1- 5; 3:10; 1Jn.1:3).

Like John, Paul warns the saints of ungodly entanglements, especially religious associations which are not grounded in the Spirit of truth (1Cor.10:14-21; 2Cor.6:14-18). On the other hand, when Peter, John, and James endorsed Paul's work in Christ for the Gentiles, they were partakers with him of his labor, and gave to him "the right hands of fellowship" (Gal.2:9).

John teaches that fellowship has distinguishing marks, so that one who claims to have fellowship with Christ, but whose behavior is ungodly, is a liar (1Jn.1:6).

The only MEANS of fellowship is the Spirit of God (1Cor.12:13; Eph.2:18; 4:3; Phip.2:1). The RESULT of fellowship is spiritual perfection of the body of Christ (1Jn.1:7). And the PURPOSE of all the fellowship of the saints in light is that men may know that God sent Jesus and that God has loved the body of Christ as He loved Jesus (Jn.17:21, 23).

Let us look at this word: "KOINONOS". It is another word in this word group which signifies "fellowship" or a closely related concept. It is a noun which means "partner" or "partaker [with someone else]".

The Pharisees believed that if they had lived in the days of the ancient prophets, they would not have been "partakers" with the murderers of the prophets (Mt.23:29-31). James and John were business "partners" with Simon Peter in the fishing industry before Jesus called them (Lk.5:10). Titus was Paul's partner in his preaching of the gospel (2Cor.8:23). We should understand this to mean that Titus was supporting, encouraging, and helping Paul in his proclamation of the Gentile's gospel. Paul also calls Titus his "fellow helper". Paul also calls Philemon his "partner" in the gospel. Peter calls himself a "partaker of the glory that shall be revealed" (1Pet.5:1), and states that the saints, by the promises of God, have been made "partakers of the divine nature" (2Pet.1:4).

Believers who suffer for Christ now are by that suffering made "companions" of those who have suffered for Christ before them (Heb.10:33). Paul teaches that those who suffer for Christ shall be privileged to partake of the comforts of Christ (2Cor.1:7).

Paul, in his warning to the saints of ungodly religious affiliations, reminds the saints that they who worship at any altar are "partakers" with that altar (1Cor.10:18). He then states that he does not desire the congregation to become a partner with devils (1Cor.10:20).

Again, the "with" form of this word, is shown to be "SUN-KOINONOS". With the combining form "with", this noun form of the Greek word for "partner" or "partaker" is used four times in the New Testament. Because they supported Paul in his ministry, the Philippians were called "partakers" of Paul's grace (Phip.1:7). Because they had been brought into a saving relationship with the God of the Israelites, the Gentile believers were said by Paul to have "partaken of the root" with them (Rom.11:17). And John on the isle of Patmos called himself the congregation's "companion" in suffering and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ (Rev.1:9).

The last two words we shall look at are: "METOKEE" (Another word translated "fellowship" is metokee. It is used in 2Cor.6:14 "what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?"); and "METOKOS". This related word is used 6 times in the New testament in the sense of "partner" or "partaker". John and James were partners of Simon Peter (Lk.5:7). This shows that this word is perfectly synonymous with koinonos, above (see Lk.5:10). In Hebrews 1:9, we are told that Jesus was blessed more than his "fellows"; that is, his fellow Jews. This word also refers to sharing an experience: of receiving God's chastisement (Heb.12:8), of receiving the heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), of obtaining salvation (Heb.3:14), and of receiving the Holy Ghost (Heb.6:4).

All who experience these things are sharers of the experience. They have a common footing for a common understanding of life and of God. This is FELLOWSHIP.

What is the end of this? It is simply that the child of God can have NO fellowship with those who have not received the same common experiences in God. Firstly, if you have been baptized with the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in other tongues) you can have NO fellowship with another who has not received it, or who is at least, not seeking to receive it. Secondly, the "spirit filled" child of God who is looking to express his love of God in the Spirit, can have no fellowship with those in Christianity who are quenching the holy Ghost with their religious creeds, traditions, and ceremonies. If you are a holy Ghost FILLED person, you will never feel at home in any of Christianity's "denominations". If you do, you are not spirit-FILLED (meaning "full"). You may have received the Spirit at one time, but if you are "filled" you will be hearing a voice saying, "come out of her my people". And lastly, if you have come out of Christianity, there is fellowship here - where your home is. Among those who have heard the same call, and forsaken the dead traditions, doctrines, and ceremonies which are quenching the holy Ghost you love. You are home. The "fellowship" is in loving this truth!

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