Acts 2:44-47 And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising GOD and having favor with all the people. And the LORD added to their number day by day those who were being saved. [Revised Standard translation]
SUMMARY
“Koinonia” is a transliteration of the Greek word “κοινωνία.” A transliteration involves the conversion of letters from one writing system to another. For example, a transliteration may involve changing Greek letters into Latin letters or Latin letters into letters in the English alphabet. “Koinonia” means communion, joint participation or a gift jointly contributed. Koinonia expresses the unity and spirit of fellowship that the early church experienced as one body “in CHRIST.” As a result of the descent of the HOLY SPIRIT on the day of Pentecost, it was as if this group of believers were of “one mind,” “one heart” and “one spirit.” They were generous (without contention), giving (without envy or division) and joyful (happy to help each other out).
The SPIRIT of Koinonia was infectious. It was as if everyone was “in love” at the same time. As a result of this joyful, giving, worshipping group, the LORD, because HE WAS THE CENTER OF THEIR JOY, added to their number day by day. It was a wonderful time to be a Christian! It did not matter that the church was being persecuted from outside. It did not matter that the Roman government structure was still in place. Nor did it matter that the Pharisee and Temple leaders considered Christianity a “rogue” religion. The early Christian believers had an “other worldly” joy---a JESUS joy. They had a JOY for the LORD and each other that overflowed into all of their daily interactions.
THE KOINONIA EXPERIENCE
What is wonderful about the verses of scripture is that they provide helpful information about what the Koinonia experience is as well as what it is not.
WHAT KOINONIA IS NOT:
- IT IS NOT A NUMBER - If someone were to ask: “Exactly how many days did it take to experience “Koinonia?” or “How many people had to be in the group before “Koinonia” occurred?” The best answer would probably be that “Koinonia is not a number.” Some of the members of the group, like Peter, were “older” disciples of CHRIST while others were “brand new.” Some members had just joined the group, perhaps only “one day old.” Sometimes there was “Koinonia” in small settings, as when they met in small groups in each others’ homes for meals and Communion. See, Acts 2:46. Sometimes larger groups experienced “Koinonia” when they worshipped together in the temple. See, Acts 2:46 and Acts 3:1 So, Koinonia was not about a specific number.
- IT IS NOT A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE, OTHER-DESTRUCTIVE OR BLAME-CENTERED PROCESS Peter, a man who we know had many “short-comings,” and who denied CHRIST three times could have easily “exempted himself” from the Koinonia experience if he had focused on what he had done in the past, focused on his past fears or how disappointed he had been with himself. So soon after the crucifixion of CHRIST other believers could have easily chosen to spend their time blaming one another for “what happened,” blaming themselves,” or complaining about the organizations and institutions around them. But the Book of Acts describes a community that did not focus on the past. Instead, the Koinonia community was intent on the wellbeing of others and learning more about GOD. They enjoyed one another. They were “glad,” “joyful,” and “generous at heart.” See Acts 2:46.
- IT IS NOT EGOCENTRIC– This was not a “me first” group of believers. They did not put a lock on their hearts, their minds or their resources to keep others out. The Koinonia fellowship of believers joined with other believers. There were teaching sessions. They met together regularly. They shared with each other and were open to other people joining the group. And, GOD “added to their number.” No one needed to “do it alone.” No one was left out. No one said, “let me get myself together before I joined the fellowship.” No one looked anyone over to see if new member would “fit” in the group. No one was concerned about anyone’s accent or what language they spoke or whether they were citizens or not. There were: Parthians (the Parthian Empire was a major cultural power in ancient Iran and Iraq), Medes (an ancient Iranian people who lived in Media, an area that would be Northwestern Iran), Elamies (a people who were thought to be the descendants of Elam, one of the offspring of Shem (the son of Noah) who settled in what is Southern Iran), residents of Mesopotamia (The word “Mesopotamia” comes from Greek meaning “between two rivers.” Many associate the region with parts of Modern day Iran, Syria and Turkey.), Judia (located in modern day Israel), Cappadocia (a humid region located in Turkey), Pontus (North East of Asia Minor (now Turkey), on the Black Sea Coast, Asia (a peninsula sometimes called Anatolia, now comprising part of modern Turkey and the Armenian highlands), Phrygia (an ancient nation in Northwest Turkey), Pamphylia (a region in the South of Asia Minor or modern day Turkey. The Pamphylians were thought to be a mixture of aboriginal inhabitants, Greeks and immigrant Cilicians (Cilicia was a Roman province in Asia Minor)), Egypt (geographically largely situated in North Africa—the portion of Egypt known as the Sinai Peninsula today borders Israel and the Gaza strip.), parts of Libya (a region West of the Nile. The Libyans, in the North, and the Ethiopians, in the South, dwelt in the area known as Libya. Some considered the Libyans the “ancient Egyptians and Libya the known “Africa” during the Biblical times. See also Daniel 11:43; See Ezekiel 30:50) and from Rome (the famous capital of the ancient world situated along the river Tiber, in modern day Europe). Everyone just felt welcomed, wanted and needed. There were no border concerns or barriers.
WHAT KOINONIA IS:
- KOINONIA IS GOD-CENTERED
a. There was scripture study.
b. There was Communion.
c. There was worship.
d. There was prayer.
e. There was inclusiveness. - KOINONIA IS A LIFESTYLE
a. DAY BY DAY – According to Luke, day by day, the people devoted themselves to a code of conduct (i.e. the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread -- See Acts 2:42), which included studying the WORD of GOD, communion with each other, including other people, praying for one another, loving GOD and loving others as JESUS had taught and had loved others.
b. Each person worked to make Koinonia a joyful, generous, thankful, growthful and loving experience for everyone else.
PHYSICAL HEALTH
Like Koinonia, achieving physical health is not a number. It is not a specific number on a scale, a suit size, a dress or pant size or the numbers of notches in a belt size. Becoming healthy is not a matter of doing “X” number of push-up, “Y” number of trips around the block or “Z” number of stretches or raw meal preparations. No one can get a “health” certificate from a doctor or a trainer that will declare them “healthy forever.” It just doesn’t work that way. Like Koinonia, good physical health and good nutrition are a “lifestyle.”
The Gym Experience
Many people who return to the gym week after week tend to have a “gym experience.” They find a class that they decide to attend---week, after week, after week. Or, they work with a trainer week after week after week. Or, they see the same people week after week after week. They become “part of a gym group”---the people who meet on the treadmill at 7:00 AM every morning or the group the meets at the weights on Mondays and Wednesdays at noon, the Zumba group, the Pilates group, or Tai Chi group. In other words, they make friends and form connections with each other. The connection is not to the machines or the equipment but with the “those who are participating in a common experience.”
The “gym experience has nothing to do with age or what you look like or what you did not do in the past. It’s not about size. The “gym experience” is about having fun maintaining a healthy lifestyle—while you encourage others to do likewise. Those who think of the gym and approach the gym “like a big playground,” or a place to make friends, be a friend and “to have fun” usually stick with the gym or physical fitness after the month of January. On the other hand, if you think of the gym as just “a place to work out by yourself,” or “a place to achieve a certain weight number” or “as drudgery,” you will likely miss “the gym experience” or even quit.
EXPERIENCING KOINONIA TODAY
Like our physical health, our spiritual walk WITH GOD is also not a number. It is not about being in the church for any specific number of hours on Sunday. It is not about the number of Sundays you attend per month or a year. Our spiritual walk with GOD is also not a “solo experience.” It is even not confined within the walls of a church or synagogue. Our church experience, our community experience, our job experience, our family experience, and even our “gym and exercise experience,” are all a part of “our walk with GOD and one another.” All of our experiences provide us an opportunity to experience Koinonia---to create healthy physical and spiritual habits, to pray and encourage ourselves and one another and to try to be good stewards over what GOD has given us---our bodies, our spirits, our minds and our resources, in a community with others, in a way that reflects the HIS SPIRIT and HIS LOVE.
If you have not experience Koinonia, ask GOD for it. Ask HIS SPIRIT to direct you. Finding a Koinonia community (e.g., a place of worship, or join a ministry (e.g. join a choir, a Sunday School class, a Bible study, a mission group, a ministry, etc.) or work on creating a spirit in your home, your community or on your job. Ask GOD what you can do to help others. Be sure to participate---REALLY PARTICIPATE--- week after week after week after week after week, while you continue to pray and ask GOD’s guidance for yourself and the group. Be inclusive. Remember, GOD wants us to be concerned and love one another too.
Seek THE JOY and THE SPIRIT of Koinonia day by day by day physically and spiritually, and BE BLESSED!
