This blog posting is about my investigation of true community [beyond mere warmth and friendliness], dynamic community-in-action, the Biblical practice of koinonia (κοινωνία).

Koinonia does NOT mean enabling bad habits, nor does it mean carrying the load for someone who can and should carry that load themselves. It does not mean idiot compassion or allowing someone to continue thinking of themselves as a victim. Koinonia means getting others on their feet, getting them marching forward on their own ... it does not mean carrying them unless they absolutely need to be carried; what it means is strengthening the entire population so that NOT ONE PERSON EVER GETS LEFT BEHIND!

I very interested in the broader social and political ramifications of this topic and there is so much to learn. For example, I am also interested [for civic leagues, political organizations, non-profits, good causes] in what I believe is a very similar topic: friendraising. In my study of koinonia (κοινωνία) thus far, I have richly benefited from listening to Greg Thurston's Series on Koinonia: Biblical Fellowship (audio, pdf), The Corporate Nature of Salvation [Through the Church] (audio, pdf), How to One Another (audio, pdf) ... as well as listening to aninterview of Jerry Bridges about his book True Community: The Biblical Practice of Koinonia.

By definition Koinonia means:

Fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse the share which one has in anything,participation in intercourse, fellowship, intimacy ... offering the [strong] right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship [in fulfilling the apostolic office] a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment andproof of fellowship.

There are 17 references to koinonia in the Bible.

1. Acts 2:42
2. Romans 15:26
3. 1 Corinthians 1:9
4. 1 Corinthians 10:16
5. 2 Corinthians 6:14
6. 2 Corinthians 8:4
7. 2 Corinthians 9:13
8. 2 Corinthians 13:14
9. Galations 2:9
10. Philippians 1:5
11. Philippians 2:1
12. Philippians 3:10
13. Philemon 1:6
14. Hebrews 13:16
15. 1 John 1:3
16. 1 John 1:6
17. 1 John 1:7

But there are plenty of discussions of fellowship and concepts that might be thought of as being closely related to the concept of koinonia. Some of these other relevant scripture includes: