What is "Fellowship"?
Let us look at this Greek word(s) used in your bible... "KOINOS", or
"KOINOO". An interesting use of this word related to fellowship is found
27 times in the New Testament. It's meaning is "to defile", "to make unclean",
or simply "common to all". This refers to something NOT set apart by or for
God.
The Jews considered one to be religiously unclean if he ate without
first washing his hands (Mt.7:2). The earliest saints put all their money into one
bank account, so to speak, and "had all things common" (Acts
2:44; 4:32). Peter and the Lord had a discussion concerning meat that was
unclean according to the Law. Peter called it common. The Lord
warned him not to call anything that he had cleansed common (Acts 10:14-15;
11:9). Paul said that he had learned that "there was nothing
unclean of itself" (Rom.14:14).
The author of Hebrews refers to those under the Old Covenant who had become
unsanctified by contact with a dead body or some other means as being ritually
unclean (Heb.9:13). And he also warns the reader not ever to think
of the Spirit of God as a common or unholy thing (Heb.10:29). This
means that it is evil to teach that the holy Ghost is something that everyone has.
The holy Ghost is not common to all men.
Nothing unholy shall be saved in the end, nor will there be in the new earth
anything which makes people unclean. Referring to the New Jerusalem, John
wrote, "There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that
defileth..." (Rev.21:27).
Paul referred to the true gospel as "the common faith"
(Tit.1:4), while Jude referred to the way of Christ as the
"common salvation" (Jude 3). We should understand these
phrases to mean the gospel in which there is a unity among the saints, the gospel
that comes from God.
The next word we shall look at is:
"KOINONEO". This is actually a verb form of the word translated
fellowship. Interestingly, this word is sometimes used in reference to the giving
of money, either to the poor of the congregation (Rom.12:13). A closely related word
is translated in 1Tim.6:18 "willing to communicate") or to the ministers of Christ
(Gal.6:6; Phip.4:15). As "communication" is a variation of the word
"communion", "to communicate" with those who preach the gospel is a form of
communion with them and their works. Jesus taught that to give one of his
ministers so much as a drink of water was a deed worthy of a great reward
(Mt.10:40-42). John forbade the congregation to support false teachers, nor to allow
them to teach in the house where the congregation meets, stating that to do so makes one
a partaker of his evil deeds (2Jn.10-11).
Otherwise, it means to share an experience or state. By the gospel Paul
preached, the Gentiles were made partakers of the spiritual blessings
of the Jews (Rom.15:27). To endorse in any manner the sins of another is to be
a partaker of their sins (1Tim.5:22). All humans are
partakers of flesh and blood (Heb.2:14). Obedient and persecuted
children of God are partakers of Christ's sufferings (1Pet.4:13).
Another word translated fellowship is:
"SUN-KOINONEO"
With the combining form "with" [sun] this verbal form of the Greek word for
fellowship is used three times in the New Testament. In Ephesians 5:11, Paul
commands the congregation there to have no "fellowship with" the unfruitful
works of darkness. By the same inspiration, an angel cries out to God's people
to come out of the ways of worship which are not of the Spirit "that ye be not
partakers of her sins" (Rev.18:4). But Paul commended the congregation
at Philippi because they "communicated with" him in his affliction
(Phip.4:14).
The next word is: "KOINONIA". The most familiar word which
signifies fellowship is this one, koinonia. It, too, may be used in
reference to the giving of money to the poor within the congregation (Rom.15:26;
2Cor.8:4; 9:13; Heb.13:16). It is used mostly in reference to the divine unity of
spirit, faith, purpose, and understanding which Jesus purchased for believers with
his suffering and death (Acts 2:42; 1Cor.1:9-17; 13:14; Eph.3:1-9; Phip.1:5; 2:1-
5; 3:10; 1Jn.1:3).
Like John, Paul warns the congregation of ungodly entanglements, especially religious
associations which are not grounded in the Spirit of truth (1Cor.10:14-21;
2Cor.6:14-18). On the other hand, when Peter, John, and James endorsed Paul's
work in Christ for the Gentiles, they were partakers with him of his labor, and
gave to him "the right hands of fellowship" (Gal.2:9).
John teaches that fellowship has distinguishing marks, so that one who claims
to have fellowship with Christ, but whose behavior is ungodly, is a liar (1Jn.1:6).
The only MEANS of fellowship is the Spirit of God (1Cor.12:13; Eph.2:18;
4:3; Phip.2:1). The RESULT of fellowship is spiritual perfection of God's holy assembly
(1Jn.1:7). And the PURPOSE of all the fellowship of the saints in light is that
men may know that God sent Jesus and that God has loved the assembly as He loved
Jesus (Jn.17:21, 23).
Let us look at this word: "KOINONOS". It is another word in this word
group which signifies "fellowship" or a closely related concept. It is a noun which
means "partner" or "partaker [with someone else]".
The Pharisees believed that if they had lived in the days of the ancient prophets,
they would not have been "partakers" with the murderers of the
prophets (Mt.23:29-31). James and John were business "partners"
with Simon Peter in the fishing industry before Jesus called them (Lk.5:10). Titus
was Paul's partner in his preaching of the gospel (2Cor.8:23). We
should understand this to mean that Titus was supporting, encouraging, and
helping Paul in his proclamation of the Gentile's gospel. Paul also calls Titus his
"fellow helper". Paul also calls Philemon his "partner" in
the gospel. Peter calls himself a "partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed" (1Pet.5:1), and states that the saints, by the promises of God, have been
made "partakers of the divine nature" (2Pet.1:4).
Believers who suffer for Christ now are by that suffering made
"companions" of those who have suffered for Christ before them
(Heb.10:33). Paul teaches that those who suffer for Christ shall be privileged to
partake of the comforts of Christ (2Cor.1:7).
Paul, in his warning to the congregation of ungodly religious affiliations, reminds the
saints that they who worship at any altar are "partakers" with that altar
(1Cor.10:18). He then states that he does not desire the congregation to become a
partner with devils (1Cor.10:20).
Again, the "with" form of this word, is shown to be "SUN-KOINONOS".
With the combining form "with", this noun form of the Greek word for
"partner" or "partaker" is used four times in the New Testament. Because they
supported Paul in his ministry, the Philippians were called "partakers"
of Paul's grace (Phip.1:7). Because they had been brought into a saving
relationship with the God of the Israelites, the Gentile believers were said by Paul
to have "partaken of the root" with them (Rom.11:17).
And John on the isle of Patmos called himself the congregation's
"companion" in suffering and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus
Christ (Rev.1:9).
The last two words we shall
look at are: "METOKEE" (Another word translated "fellowship" is
metokee. It is used in 2Cor.6:14 "what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness?"); and "METOKOS". This related word is used 6 times
in the New testament in the sense of "partner" or "partaker". John and James
were partners of Simon Peter (Lk.5:7). This shows that this word is
perfectly synonymous with koinonos, above (see Lk.5:10). In Hebrews 1:9, we
are told that Jesus was blessed more than his "fellows"; that is, his
fellow Jews. This word also refers to sharing an experience: of receiving God's
chastisement (Heb.12:8), of receiving the heavenly calling (Heb.3:1), of obtaining
salvation (Heb.3:14), and of receiving the holy Ghost (Heb.6:4).
All who experience these things are sharers of the experience. They have a
common footing for a common understanding of life and of God. This is
FELLOWSHIP.
What is the end of this? It is simply that the child of God can have NO fellowship
with those who have not received the same common experiences in God. Firstly,
if you have been baptized with the holy Ghost (with the evidence of speaking in
other tongues) you can have NO fellowship with another who has not received it, or who is at
least, not seeking to receive it. Secondly, the "spirit filled" child of God who is looking to
express his love of God in the Spirit, can have no fellowship with those in
Christianity who are quenching the holy Ghost with their religious creeds, traditions, and
ceremonies. If you are a holy Ghost FILLED person, you will never feel at home
in any of Christianity's "denominations". If you do, you are not spirit-FILLED (meaning "full").
You may have received the Spirit at one time, but if you are "filled" you will be hearing a voice
saying, "come out of her my people". And lastly, if you
have come out of Christianity, there is fellowship here - where your home is.
Among those who have heard the same call, and forsaken the dead traditions,
doctrines, and ceremonies which are quenching the holy Ghost you love. You are
home. The "fellowship" is in loving this truth!
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