Greek word · Strong's G2842

κοινωνία

koinōnía · noun · “fellowship, communion”

In a sentence

Koinōnia means fellowship, sharing, or communion — the deep partnership believers have with God and one another through the Spirit.

Koinōnia is more than friendly company; it means having something in common, sharing in it together. The New Testament uses it for the believer’s shared life with the Father, Son, and Spirit, and for the resulting shared life of the church.

This fellowship shows itself practically — in shared meals, shared resources, shared suffering and joy. It is grounded in the gospel: those reconciled to God are bound to each other as family.

Strong's reference

Definition: partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction

KJV usage: (to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship

Reference gloss from Strong's Concordance (1890, public domain).

Key verses BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” 1 John 1:3 “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And this fellowship of ours is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.” Philippians 2:1 “Therefore if you have any encouragement in Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,”

Original BibleDawn word study. Original-language data and the public-domain Strong's (1890) gloss are referenced; see sources.