Meaning of COMMUNION

(gr. "koinonia", from "koinos": common to several people).

Relationship within which two parties have something in common, association. Believers have fellowship with the Father and the Son (1 Jn. 1:3), with the Holy Spirit (2 Cor. 13:13), and with each other (1 Jn. 1:7). Therefore they must walk in the light, practice the truth and thus allow themselves to be purified from all sin (1 Jn. 1:6-7).

God Himself calls us to this communion of His Son (1 Cor. 1:9), based on communion with the sacrifice of His body and blood (1 Cor. 10:16), going also to the communion of His sufferings (Phil. 3:10; 1 Pet. 4:13).

Being thus united to the Lord, the early Christians persevered in fraternal communion, possessing everything in common, to the point of being all of one heart and one soul..., and even one purse (Acts 2:42, 44 -45; 4:32).

Paul can similarly exhort the Philippians, "if there be... any fellowship of the Spirit," to have one love, one soul, and one mind (Phil. 2:1-2).

Thus, "koinonia" is not only "spiritual", but extends to the domain of the most practical. In fact, the same Greek term also means "offering" (Rom. 15:26), "help" ("participate"), "freedom" (2 Cor. 9:4; 9:13; Heb. 13:16). .

Apart from the latter, communion would be nothing more than a theoretical entelechy devoid of meaning. The adjective "koinonos" also means "partner" (Lk. 5:10; 2 Cor. 8:23; Phm. 17).

The partners participate in a company and/or in common assets. Hence the use of the term "koinonos" in the following expressions:
the part you have in the gospel (Phil. 5:1);
partakers of the glory (1 Pet. 5:1);
participants in the divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4).

That is the extent of our association with Jesus Christ. This, evidently, excludes any association with the enemy: «What communion (has) the light with the darkness? And what agreement does Christ have with Belial?

Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (2 Cor. 6:14-15). Paul told Philemon: "... may the sharing of your faith be effective in knowing all the good that is in you through Christ Jesus" (Flm. 6). So be it with us!