The topic of “fellowship” is prominent in scripture. It is a simple concept, though it has been the seat of much controversy. Solomon said, “there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), and the same rings true with the problems surrounding fellowship. Even the first century church experienced trouble with the different applications of accepted and restricted practices of fellowship. There have been many in our day, both within and without the church, who have severely abused and misused passages of scripture concerning the topic. Let us not, as some do, suggest that God has left us in an unsettled predicament concerning any spiritual topic. “That which is perfect has come” (1 Corinthians 13:10), as it has been “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), and “he who is spiritual” can understand those things contained therein “because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14, 15). We must “become a fool that [we] may become wise” (1 Corinthians 3:18), and “be diligent to present [ourselves] approved to God, [workers] who [do] not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

It is prudent when considering any topic of scripture to investigate the terminology involved with the subject. “Fellowship” is a translation of three Greek words in the KJV and NKJV of the New Testament. This translation is found fifteen times. These three Greek words are as follows:

• koinōnia – partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction: — (to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship. (Strong) (Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 8:4; 10:20 [koinōnos, akin to koinōnia] Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:9; Philippians 1:5; 2:1; 3:10; 1 John 1:3[twice], 6, 7) (Other translations: contribution, communion, sharing, share, partaker, partner, companion)
• metochē – participation, i.e. intercourse: — fellowship. (Strong) (2 Corinthians 6:14)
• sygkoinōneō – to share in company with, i.e. co-participate in: — communicate (have fellowship) with, be partaker of. (Strong) (Ephesians 5:11) (Other translations: shared in, share)

As is noted in the above definitions given by Strong, fellowship has to do with commonality. When individuals have something in common, or they have, or share in something with someone else, they have fellowship with each other. Also, fellowship is something practiced as indicated by the verb sygkoinōneō, and the verb forms of koinōnia and metochē. Fellowship is a commonality or involvement with something or someone, or it is a joint participation with others, either lawfully or otherwise.

In Luke’s gospel account, when Jesus was teaching from a boat on the Lake of Gennesaret, after telling Simon to let down the nets for a catch, and having caught an immense volume of fish, the account reads, “So they signaled to their partners [metochos] in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink” (Luke 5:7). Also in verse 10, “and so also (astonished) were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners [koinōnos] with Simon.” This passage speaks of the partnership the men had in matters of business as fellow fishermen. When two or more share in the same matter they have “fellowship.” As is indicated in the previous passage, the term “fellowship” and its related words are not inherently spiritual terms. Two have fellowship as they eat together, work together, or do any other thing together. However, when used in the New Testament the term primarily deals with spiritual relationships and interactions.

The apostle John gave his reason for writing his epistle saying, “that which we have seen and heard (the Word of life) we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship [koinōnia] with us; and truly our fellowship [koinōnia] is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). In this verse, John described two relationships. One was vertical – God and man; the other was horizontal – man and man. These are not physical relationships as before with Simon, James and John, but spiritual. And as they are both spiritual relationships, they themselves are dependent on each other. One cannot be had without the other. In order for his readers to have fellowship with God, John declared unto them “the Word of life.” This Word is He who was in the beginning, and serves as the only way to the Father (cf. John 1:1-5; 14:6). He is manifest in “the gospel of Christ…the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16), which when obeyed delivers one out of the “power of darkness” and conveys one “into the kingdom of the Son of [God’s] love” (Colossians 1:13). Therefore, John wrote that they could remain unmoved in that state with God, and as such remain unmoved in their state with him and the rest of the apostles. Which is why he continued saying, “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship [koinōnia] with Him, and 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 [koinōnia] with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). For one to say he has fellowship with God while walking in darkness is to lie, for God is light. There is no commonality between light and darkness, thus no commonality between God and one who walks in darkness. However, when one walks in light he is in fellowship with God who is light, and as such with all others who walk in light and are in fellowship with God.

As indicated in 1 John 1:1-4, fellowship with God occurs when one has “the Word of life” declared unto him, and he reacts properly in faithful obedience. That fellowship is maintained with God as long as the commonality of light is maintained. While fellowship with God exists, one enjoys fellowship with anyone else who is also in fellowship with God. It is then that fellowship becomes an action that should be taken. Because a common relationship with God is shared, there can and should be a joint participation, or “fellowship” with others in those things which are included in that relationship with God. We see this occur between Christians upon the establishment of the church in Acts 2. “Those who gladly received [Peter’s] word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them” (Acts 2:41). It was at the point of baptism that their sins were washed away, and they were added to the body of Christ. It was at that point that they entered into fellowship with God. Due to their fellowship with God in being added to Christ’s body, they also entered into fellowship with each other. Their relationship with God was a commonality between them. Paul wrote about this saying, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many” (1 Corinthians 12:13-14). They were added to the same body and were thus “individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5). Therefore, they began to function together, or participate together, or have fellowship together. The account continues, “And they continued steadfastly in…fellowship [koinōnia]” (Acts 2:42). It was at this point they began to participate, commune, share, distribute, contribute, associate, partake together, and have fellowship together in spiritual matters.

The term “fellowship” is easily understood. It considers commonality, partnership, joint participation, etc. However, questions arise concerning the topic that need to be answered. We must turn to scripture for the answers so as to avoid venturing beyond that which is written (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:6). Who has fellowship with God? Who can we have fellowship with? What things did Christians jointly participate in within the inspired writings? These, among other related questions, I intend to consider in following installments.