Like you have, been social distancing lately yet I’ve been feelin’ sick of these terms. Let’s social distance ourselves away from the devil, his influencers, and from this world’s corrupt system!
Such basic stuff here. Let’s stick together in Koinonia relationship -- in edifying fellowship, believer. Yes, it’s first upwords and then it’s outwords with growing believers. First thing, let’s pray and listen and then fellowship with God all through the day. How? Honestly fellowship together with the Lord daily--man, that’s so important! And then let’s prayerfully stay in fellowship with one another. Listen, prayerfully doing this will help you grow real strong. You’ll stay balanced and healthy in Christ.It’s Sunday now -- so if it’s allowed where you live, then it’s time to head back to your healthy local church for biblical worship and fellowship together. There’s been some with fears about this, but you can wisely do this really.
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3
Real fellowship among believers is what God wants us to enjoy. It so good for us -- go find the Greek root word behind our English term for that. But why? Well, you can determine the meaning of fellowship when examining it closer within the New Testament context. The Bible says...“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.. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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.” 1 John 1:3, 6–7
Praying the word not just for me..changes me. It helps us all grow in grace and truth.
Translations that claim to use close word-for-word consistency, like with the ESV, do not always render koinonia as “fellowship.” And there’s a reason for that. It’s cuz Koinonia can be used for a particular aspect of Christianity really, or of the dynamic whole of Christian living.
Koinonia is Dynamic Relationship.
Koinonia is translated many different ways in English Bibles. The first appearance of koinonia in the New Testament appears in Acts 2:42: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”See how Koinonia is interpreted with another word in 2 Cor 9:13. “They will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution (koinonia) for them and for all others.”
Paul writes to the believers in Philippi: “That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share (koinonia) his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” Phil 3:10
These different translations reflect the nature of koinonia: it depicts an interactive relationship between God and believers ..in that order.. who are sharing new life through Christ.
The Greek word captures the entirety of this relationship. It involves active participation in Christian community for the purposes of glorifying Jesus and building others up in him. It’s about sharing in spiritual blessings and giving material blessings. It’s about sharing trials and bearing one another’s burdens. Gentile believers in Macedonia had nothing in common with the Jewish believers in Jerusalem ...except Christ (Rom 15:26–27). Even if we have different hobbies and interests, we all have him in common, believer.
