What is koinonia in the church?

It is the fellowship of believers: shared life, prayer, mutual care and practical help. In Acts 2 it stands beside teaching, the breaking of bread and prayer as a mark of the church.

Where does the word koinonia come from?

From the Greek koinos, “common”. Koinonia is having a share in something together with others — which is why it is translated fellowship, communion and even contribution.

Greek word · Strong G2842

What does Koinonia mean?

Koinonia is the Greek word for fellowship: having something in common, sharing in it together. It marks the first church in Jerusalem: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

κοινωνία

koinōnía · transliteration

In Strong’s lexicon: partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction
In the King James: fellowship11
communion3
Appears in: 18 verses

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The meaning of Koinonia in the Bible

Its root is koinos, “common”. Koinonia is more than friendship: it is the shared life of those who belong to the same Lord — fellowship with God and therefore with one another. John writes so that his readers may have fellowship with the apostles, “and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

The word also has a practical side. Paul calls the churches' offering for the poor in Jerusalem a koinonia — “a certain contribution for the poor saints” (Romans 15:26) — and speaks of the communion of the blood and body of Christ at the Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 10:16). The closing blessing of 2 Corinthians wishes everyone “the communion of the Holy Ghost” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Where Koinonia appears

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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1 John 1:3

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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2 Corinthians 13:14

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. The second epistle to the Corinthians was written from Philippi, a city of Macedonia, by Titus and Lucas.

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1 Corinthians 10:16

The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

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Frequently asked questions

What is koinonia in the church?: It is the fellowship of believers: shared life, prayer, mutual care and practical help. In Acts 2 it stands beside teaching, the breaking of bread and prayer as a mark of the church.
Where does the word koinonia come from?: From the Greek koinos, “common”. Koinonia is having a share in something together with others — which is why it is translated fellowship, communion and even contribution.

The meaning of Koinonia in the Bible

Where Koinonia appears

Acts 2:42

1 John 1:3

2 Corinthians 13:14

1 Corinthians 10:16

Frequently asked questions

More Bible words