Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FELLOWSHIP

Something that is shared, or/and those who share it (although either may be implicit rather than explicit in a particular passage). With regard particularly to Paul’s use of Gk. koinōnía (“that which is in common”) to refer to the Lord’s Supper or the relationship that believers have with Christ, it is difficult to tell whether the emphasis is upon that which is shared (the Supper or belief in Christ) or the act of sharing with others (the communion).

The koinōnía word group was widely used in the early centuries of the Christian era (and before) and referred to a variety of situations and topics: joint undertakings in war and civic life, marriage (or sexual relationships), cultic life, business partnerships, friendships, and clubs. Before Plato, the proverb “friends have all things in common” points to sharing as establishing or manifesting a field of relationships. Thus, koinōnía in the NT does not imply “intimacy” or “a mystical relationship” unless those meanings are present in the context.

Paul frequently uses koinōnía to describe the Church. It is the mutual relationship in Christ that results from the call of God (1 Cor. 1:9), and it is sustained by the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:14; Phil. 2:1). However, koinōnía also finds concrete expression when applied to either the relief for the Jerusalem poor (Rom. 15:26) or the money given to those who teach (Gal. 6:6). This financial sharing related to the work of the Church is manifested most clearly in Phil. 4:14-20 (cf. Heb. 13:16).

A controversial usage is in 1 Cor. 10:16-18. Nineteenth-century scholars stressed the parallels Paul makes with pagan worship to prove a “sacramental” understanding of the Lord’s Supper. This view has now declined in favor, even among highly sacramental Christian groups. The fact that Paul describes Jewish, pagan, and Christian groups as examples of “fellowship” limits comparisons with alleged pagan sacramentalism and should also caution against any alleged uniqueness to the Christian meal. Rather, all three groups are examples of how partaking of a defining action (esp. eating) both creates and manifests a particular community. In biblical terms, partaking is covenantal action.

The “fellowship” of Acts 2:42 probably means the “common life” or “community,” including shared meals and breaking bread. The uses in 1 John also emphasize the common life, vital in a church having just suffered division. John reminds his readers that their covenantal relationship with God is secure since it is fellowship with God, and his Son (1 John 1:6-7).

Bibliography. P. Perkins, “Koinōnia in 1 John 1:3-7,” CBQ 45 (1983): 631-41; J. P. Sampley, Pauline Partnership in Christ (Philadelphia, 1980).

Wendell Willis

Prayer Tents Bible References - Prayer Tents

FELLOWSHIP

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible (2000)