God has created us as social creatures; we have a need for friendship and interaction with others. From mans beginnings when Adam acted as a keeper of the Garden of Eden, God identified that: “It is not good that the man should be alone”, God saw the need man had for support and friendship and so provided for that need in giving Adam a companion. In fact in the relationship of this first man and woman we have what might be described as a definition of ‘fellowship’. Adam said that Eve was: “Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh” – there was a unity between Adam and Eve – a oneness, Adam understood Eve, and Eve understood Adam and this perhaps sums up what fellowship is - a unity of mind and a sharing of purpose. The book of Philippians speaking on the subject of fellowship tells us:
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind”. (Philippians 2 v 2)
So in this context it appears that ‘fellowship’ describes a unity of thinking and love between 2 or more individuals. When we have fellowship with others, the way we think and the things that we love are the same.
According Strong’s concordance The Greek word translated ‘fellowship’ (Koinonia) has the meanings of: communion (sharing), communication and distribution. What does its root word (Koinonos) mean?
Koinonos (Strongs number 2844):
Philippians 2 v 1 – 5 tells us of how we can promote fellowship in our relationships. What characteristics do we need to work on to help us in our fellowship with others?
The English word ‘fellowship’ is hardly ever used in the Old Testament of the Bible - only on 2 occasions in comparison to 14 times in the New Testament. However fellowship as a concept can be clearly seen throughout the Old Testament. Speaking of the friendship between David and Jonathan we are told that:
“...the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Samuel 18 v 1)
Jonathan and David’s soul (their character) was united. And they had a mutual respect and love for the way each other thought.
What other examples of fellowship do we find in the Old Testament?
In the epistle of John we are told that we can share fellowship with others if we share the same direction in life:
“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”. (1 John 1 v 7)
If we think our direction in life is that of Gods and yet we do not share true fellowship with others what impact does that have upon out faith? (See: 1 John 2 v 9 – 11)
Fellowship often has a practical as well as a spiritual outworking. In the book of Romans the Gentile Christians in Macedonia and Achaia made a “...contribution (literally – a fellowship) for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem”- just as the Jewish Christians had shared (or fellowshipped) their spiritual blessing with the Gentile believers (Romans 15 v 26 – 27).
In what way can we allow fellowship to have a practical and spiritual outworking in our lives?
Fellowship among believers is particularly important during times of hardship. Often we need the spiritual and practical support of others most when times are hard. The Corinthian ecclesia shared in the sufferings of Paul and Timothy and responded by giving them comfort (1 Corinthians 1 v 7). In Philippians 3 v 10 we read of the fellowship we have with Jesus in his sufferings. In what way does this passage suggest we can share in Jesus sufferings?
The action of eating bread and drinking wine shows how we can remember Jesus and his sufferings. And it is through these sufferings that we can have fellowship in a shared hope. What does 1 Corinthians 10 v 16 – 17 tell us about fellowship (the word communion in this passage is the same as fellowship)?