When John writes his first letter, five times over he mentions being “born of God.” Immediately it would be understood, not only that anyone who has been born of God possesses new life, but also that there is a new relationship. We have a relationship with God.
This relationship is so wonderfully expressed by Paul in ten of his letters: “God our Father.” Knowing this relationship, it is not strange to find that John twice in his first letter speaks of “my little children.” This expression reveals to us a relationship that we have been brought into with one another, that of a family relationship. Because of this new relationship into which God has brought us, we not only have privileges, but responsibilities as well.
One of those responsibilities is our relationship with one another. That which binds believers together positionally should be manifested practically. We cannot read our Bible without noticing that there is a collective relationship between believers. This collective relationship is expressed by the word “fellowship.”
We use the word “fellowship” often in our conversation, yet I believe, in most cases, we are not aware of what is involved, or what the biblical meaning of the word “fellowship” includes.
Look at what the Bible has to say about “fellowship.” The Greek word koinonia is found 18 times in the New Testament. The first time the word occurs is in Acts 2:42. This is not the first occurrence of the English word “fellowship,” in the KJV. We find the word in Leviticus 6:2 and Psalm 94:20, but under two different Hebrew words.
In Leviticus 6:2, it is the Hebrew word tesuwmeth meaning “pledge, security, deposit,” and in Psalm 94:20, the Hebrew word is chabar, meaning, “to unite, join, bind together, be coupled, or be in league.” This word is found 21 times in the Old Testament, whereas the former is only found once.
Let us now look at the Greek word koinonia and see if we find any relationship with the Hebrew word. The English meaning of the word koinonia carries this family of ideas: “fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation.”
In the New Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon, we find the following explanation of the word koinonia:
1) The share which one has in anything, participation; the thing in which he shares.
2) fellowship, intimacy; used of the intimate bond of fellowship which unites Christians.
3) a benefaction jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship.
From both the two Hebrew words and the Greek word, we learn that there is a relationship of meaning between these three words.
Let us now look at the occasion where the first occurrence of the word “fellowship” (koinonia) is found. It is interesting that the first occurrence is found in relationship with the first assembly in Jerusalem. Peter had preached on that memorable day, the day of Pentecost. The words that fell from his lips came with piercing power and a cry rang out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Without hesitation, there came an answer, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
As we follow the description that the Spirit of God has left us from that day, we read, “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:41). What a glorious scene! Has this ever been repeated? An assembly of 3,000 souls born in one day in one place? It is in this connection that we find the following words in Acts 2:42, “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
We learn from the first occurrence that fellowship is associated with “apostles’ doctrine” (teaching). We are reminded by the prophet Amos: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Thus, the first thing that the Spirit of God would like us to learn about “fellowship” is that it is founded on the teaching of the Scripture and those in that company are in agreement with the teaching. When we say: “I fellowship with the saints at…” It means not only that I attend there, but that I am in agreement with the teaching of that assembly which is exhibited by my joint participation.
Did we note the word “and”? It is interesting that the word “fellowship” is found between “apostles’ doctrine” and “breaking of bread.” It seems that the Spirit of God would like us to know that the basis of our fellowship is “apostles’ doctrine,” the purpose and highest expression of our fellowship is “breaking of bread,” and the power of our fellowship is “prayer.” Upon this triangular foundation, fellowship with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit is founded. Is it any wonder that it is said of the early assembly, “These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also” (Acts 17:6)?
The next time we find the word “fellowship” is in 1 Corinthians 1:9. Now that we have some idea as to what “fellowship” is, this verse comes with its mighty power to the very heart of our being. “God [is] faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” Again we are reminded of the words of Paul: “…But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).
God has called us–we who “were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”–to a living spiritual partnership with His Son. Here we have the call of our fellowship. Taking the words of the poet:
That Thou couldst be a God to me,
And be the God Thou art,
Is darkness to my intellect,
But sunshine to my heart.
There are many other verses where the word “fellowship” is found, and we would urge the reader prayerfully to consider them all. We would only look at three more verses which are not translated “fellowship” in our KJV, yet the Greek word is there.
In Romans 15:26, we read: “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” In this verse, the English word “contribution” is the Greek word koinonia. We believe that the translators have used a right word, for though the word is fellowship, yet in this case fellowship is expressed by contribution.
Dig channels for the streams of love,
Where they may broadly run,
For love has overflowing streams
To fill them every one.
But if at any time you cease
Such channels to provide,
The very founts of love to you
Will soon be parched and dried.
For you must share if you would keep
Those riches from above;
Ceasing to share you cease to have;
Such is the law of love.
We may well ask at this point: Do we contribute to the place where we go to “fellowship?” In the case of the Macedonian believers, there was no question as to their fellowship, for they expressed it by contribution to the poor saints. Writing his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul said: “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality” (8:2). This contribution (fellowship) came out of their deep poverty. Here again is is another way that the Spirit of God describes fellowship.
In Philemon 1:6, we read: “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” Here the word is translated communication. Again, it is clear that fellowship is an active part of our relationship with other believers, not only in contribution but in communication. Paul states that the good things which were present in Philemon were communicated by him to others. How beautifully this is expressed in Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.”
I am sure all of us have heard of the Book of Life, but here we have another book written by God. It is the Book of Fellowship. Is there any doubt that Philemon’s name is also in the Book of Fellowship.
The last passage we would like to note is in 2 Corinthians 9:13, “While by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for [your] liberal distribution unto them, and unto all.” Here the word is translated “distribution,” but it is the same Greek word koinonia. It is wonderful to see how the Spirit of God has brought these activities under the one heading of “fellowship.”
Lets look at them now together and see the true meaning of the word “fellowship.” In Acts 2:42, we have teaching, the foundation of fellowship; breaking of bread, the purpose of fellowship; and prayer, the power of our fellowship
In Romans 15:26, we have contribution, the practical expression of fellowship. In 1 Corinthians 1:9, we have our calling to fellowship. In 2 Corinthians 9:13, we have distribution, the activity in fellowship. In Philemon 1:6, we have communication, the enjoyment of our fellowship. These five areas make up our “fellowship.” Now let us ask ourselves, when we speak of fellowship, are these five areas active in our lives in the local assembly with which we are associated?
O matchless honor, all unsought,
High privilege, surpassing thought
That Thou shouldst call us, Lord, to be
Linked in work-fellowship with Thee!
To carry out Thy wondrous plan,
To bear Thy messages to man. (H. B. Smith)
Let us remember that when the Bible speaks of “fellowship,” it does not mean a place that I attend once or twice a week. We go to the grocery store once or twice a week: does this mean that we fellowship there? Sad to say, but often that is all that it amounts to in assemblies today. In this “computer-age” world, is it possible that we have become nothing more than “numbers” to one another? Have we lost the notion that as people in a fallen world there is life to be lived and there are joys and sorrows to be shared.
Let us remember the heartfelt response of the Lord as recorded in Malachi 3:16. What a difference it will make to an assembly where this is true. And how it must delight the heart of God when He sees us enjoying that fellowship which cost Him so dearly.