Koinonia Philippians 1:5

As Paul continued his letter to the church in Philippi, he included all the saints who attended there in his greeting. He tells them of his remembrance and prayers to the Lord and makes his requests for them with joy. In chapter one and verse five Paul shares about the “fellowship” which was among them where he wrote:

For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

The verse begins, “For your fellowship in the gospel...” The word “fellowship” employed by Paul is the Greek word “koinonia” which means “association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse or the share which one has in anything.” The presence of “the gospel” which means “good news” of Jesus Christ was among those who attended the church at Philippi. Paul was joyful over their “koinonia”, and it made it easy for Paul to make his requests in prayer with joy when he thought of their unity with one another.

The verse goes on to say, “...from the first day until now;” Paul included a time period for which he is celebrating their “fellowship” - “from the first day...” which notes the very beginning of the church, “until now” which was at the moment Paul was writing this letter. In other words, just as Paul practiced a continuum of prayer for the church at Philippi, he also celebrated their “fellowship” perpetually.

When we become a Christian, we join a group of people with whom there is a bonding, a “fellowship” like no other in the world. The English language fails to fully express the association that Christians have with one another. “Koinonia” connects brothers and sisters in the Lord in a manner that is difficult to define, and yet so readily available. A church that dwells together in “koinonia” does so because of the “gospel” of Jesus Christ which declares that people who have sinned against God, deserve to die for their sins, now have access to God through belief in Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for every sin upon the cross, was raised to life on the third day after His death, and promises to give eternal life to all who will simply “believe” which means to “rely upon, trust in and cling to” Him. There is no better association in all the world than those who are connected by this truth.

Next time we will see how the Lord begins and finishes His work, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

 

Until tomorrow...there is more...

 

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