4. Relationship Words in the Word: Koinonia
- Relationship Words in the Word: Koinonia.
Koinonia may be the closest Greek word in the ancient world to the modern term “relationship,” and it is biblically described as meaning: fellowship; personal communion; held in common; shared partnership; close companionship; in community; active participation; partakers; deeply united; intimately bonded; dwell or abide within. The following “koinonia” passages from Scripture speak for themselves…
“So you must remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will live in close fellowship (koinonia) with the Son and the Father; you will live deeply in them both, sharing God’s life forever, as He has promised.” (1 John 2:24).
“Because of His glory and goodness, He has given us magnificent and precious promises that are beyond all price, so that through them you may escape from the world’s corruption due to disordered passions and human desires, and may become partakers (koinonia) of the divine nature, participants in His nature, sharing in the divine life of God in partnership with Him.” (2 Peter 1:3-4).
“God is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership (koinonia) with His Son, a life of communion and participation in His life. God has called you to co-share the very life of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:9).
“We saw it, we heard it, and now we’re telling you so you can experience it along with us, this experience of communion (koinonia) with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. For truly the fellowship, the shared companionship that we have is with the Father and the Son.” (1 John 1:3).
“And they devoted themselves to the apostle’s teaching, to taking part in their unified life together as a fellowship community (koinonia), to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers.” (Act 2:42).
“James, Peter and John, as esteemed pillars of the community, extended to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship (koinonia) as a symbol of our unity in mission, assigning both of us to a ministry to the non-Jews, while they continued to be responsible for reaching out to the Jews.” (Galatians 2:9).
“So we are lying if we say we have fellowship (koinonia) with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are walking in the light, God Himself being the light, then we have fellowship (koinonia) with one another, united, experiencing a shared life together (koinonia) and the blood of Jesus Messiah cleanses and purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:6-7).
“Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. And each exclamation is a trigger to prayer… I find myself praying for you with a glad heart, because of your fellowship (koinonia) in the Gospel, your partnership in the Good News, from the day you heard it right up to the present.” (Philippians 1:3-5).
“Therefore, if you have any encouragement from your being in union with the Messiah, any comfort flowing from love, any fellowship (koinonia) with me in the Spirit, or any compassion and sympathy, then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.” (Philippians 2:1-2).
“Our hope for you is firmly grounded, because we know that just as you share (koinonia) in our sufferings, just as you participate in our troubles, so also you will share in our comfort, you will take part in our encouragements.” (2 Corinthians 1:7).
“My goal is to know the Messiah personally, to experience His resurrection power, to be participating as a partner (koinonia) in His suffering, and go all the way with Him to death itself.’ (Philippians 3:10).
St. Paul’s Trinitarian Blessing: “May the generous grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the agape love of God, and the deep fellowship (koinonia) of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Amen.” (2 Corinthians 13:14).