“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:3-6
That word “partnership” in verse 5 is the Greek word “koinonia.” We often translate that word “fellowship,” but the ESV got it right here – partnership is the clear sense in the book of Philippians. We might even use the word “teamwork.”
Koinonia means sharing together, it means living as a unified family, it means working as a team. And that’s what the believers in Philippi were doing for Paul as they supported his missionary work. In fact, they were the only ones who were!
“Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.”
Philippians 4:14-16
There are two more uses of the word “koininia,” clearly referring to financial support.
As we finish our short series on stewardship we have seen that stewardship is faithfully managing everything the Lord has entrusted to us – including but not limited to our money. We are to share together with our brothers and sisters in Christ our time, energy, affection, prayer and service as well. We are a team; a family.
In fact, sharing is the natural response when we truly believe that we are one in Christ.
“Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.”
Acts 4:32
The early church spontaneously shared financially with one another – selling property and homes to provide for the needs of those among them who had needs.
“There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
Acts 4:34-35
What a remarkable moment in history – that in the large and growing church in Jerusalem, “there was not a needy person among them.” It was truly a “year of Jubilee,” as God had long intended for His Old Testament people – a year of releasing debts and leveling the playing field.
Paul sums up the application for us clearly here:
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…”
Philippians 2:3-5
In the end, it’s a matter of humility and it’s about committing to be more like Jesus. His mindset is already ours as we have been united with Him by faith – but still we need to embrace that humble, service-oriented mindset and commit to a life of sacrificial service that truly considers others more significant than ourselves. The result of that mindset and those commitments is koinonia – true Biblical fellowship – genuine gospel partnership!