Koinōnia is the Greek word for fellowship. It is based on the Greek noun koinos which means “common.” It has reference to the things one shares with others.  When we talk about fellowship or koinōnia of the church we are referring to what we hold in common with each other.  And so, even though Christian fellowship includes many things, at its heart is a common experience of God’s grace through Christ Jesus.

Throughout God’s word we find many verses of scripture that use the words “one another” to teach us what our Christian fellowship, what our relationship to others should be like.

We are called to love one another. In John 13:34-35, Jesus gave His new commandment: “³⁴A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” This is repeated two more times, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (15:12);   “This I command you, to love one another” (15:17).  Paul reminds us of this commandment in Romans 13:8: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul prays, “. . . abound in love to one another and to all men. . .” He wrote, “You yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:9). The “love one another” command appears 5 times in 1 John (verses 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11-12) and it appears again in 2 John 5.  The ability to love one another as Jesus commanded can only come through being born of the Spirit and an understanding of God’s love for us all.

We are called to serve one another. Jesus is our example in this area. He demonstrated the true nature of the servant character of love when he washed the feet of his disciples. He said in John 13:15, “I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”  The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, “You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.”  We are called to be servants in all ways.

We are called to bear one another’s burdens. “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2.) We show our love for one another and serve each other by helping shoulder the burdens that are wearing down our brothers and sisters in Christ. Of course, this can only happen when we engage with one another; when we build relationships of trust and confidence with each other to a point where we are not afraid to share with one another honestly.

We are called to forgive one another. The early church did have difficult times and this caused on many occasions bitterness and anger within the church. Paul wrote to the churches in Ephesus and Colosse about the absolute need of forgiveness within the body of Christ. “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32.) “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:12-13.)

We are called to confess our sins to one another. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16.) While this may not be something we as Christians do as a matter of practice or even want to do, James tells us that such confessions are linked to prayer and promised power to overcome the sin in our lives.

We are called to instruct one another. Paul said to the Christians at Rome: “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” (Romans 15:14.) “Complete in knowledge and competent” requires that we have a close relationship with God and we know the scriptures. Our specific life experiences, coupled with God’s word and how He has impacted our lives make incredible tools for instruction.

Finally, we are called to comfort one another. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:3-4 that in the same we have been comforted by God in our times of trial and tribulation, we are to comfort one another. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”

I have recently joined a women’s Bible study group. From my first day in the group, I could see there was a special something between the women in the group. In the last four weeks attending the weekly study, that “something special” has become even more apparent. As a group, they exhibit each of the “one another” principles listed here. There is definitely something intense about how they relate to one another. Now, for me, this is something new and will take some getting used to. I do have a natural reluctance to allowing others to get too close. And each of these principles requires an incredible degree of trust in others, something I do not easily do. But I understand that if I want to experience true koinōnia as a member of the body of Christ, if I truly desire to grow into spiritual maturity, instead of following my first instinct which was to turn and run fast and far, the barriers have to come down.

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Ephesians 4:15-16.