Philippians - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

he was in prison. “Fellowship in the gospel” covers more territory than that, and the repeated
temporals are much more suited to multiple grace gifts. It could also be translated “partnership” or
“participation” in his ministry. However, this is not to deprecate the important concept that true
fellowship is in doctrine. True fellowship is not social life, but mutual intake and metabolization of
Bible doctrine in the filling of the Spirit. Soul (spiritual) rapport is social life between believers who
share the same doctrinal framework in their soul.
REVELANT OPINIONS
The word "fellowship" today has been restricted almost exclusively in its meaning in church circles
to the idea of companionship or social intercourse. However, Paul did not have reference here to his
companionship with them in church meetings and Bible classes back in Philippi, but to their constant
prayers and help as he went on his missionary journeys. (K. Wuest) Their partnership involved an
active cooperation in the widest sense, with their recent financial support being a signal instance of
this “koinonia.” (P. O’Brien) The meaning is not to be restricted exclusively to the monetary support
given by the Philippians to the apostle, but denotes co-operation in the widest sense, their
participation with the Apostle whether in sympathy or in suffering or in active labor or in any other
way. At the same time their almsgiving was a signal instance of this co-operation, and seems to have
been foremost in the Apostle’s mind. (J. Lightfoot)
Fellowship, koinonia, is a rich N.T. word which denotes "participation in something with someone,"
and its meaning that Christians share with one another in a common possession (for example, "the
Gospel" in 1:5, "the Spirit" in 2:1) is far more important than the popular modern idea of a personal
association with fellow Christians as when we use the word of a friendly atmosphere in a public
meeting. This latter sense of the word is never used by Paul. Fellowship is created "by" the Holy
Spirit when fellow believers are "in" the Holy Spirit (in possession of Him) - an internal quality of
life in Christ, an intimate knowledge and experience of the Lord. (R. P. Martin) The Greek word is
“koinonia” and it means that which believers can share of the things of Christ. There are three
elements that must enter into it: spiritual communication, sympathetic cooperation, and sweet
communion. (J. McGee)
Fellowship in the Gospel: The word fellowship has been so watered down in contemporary speech
that it conveys only a faint suggestion of what it meant in earlier times. When we speak of
fellowship today, we generally mean no more than comradeship or sharing good times with other
believers. But fellowship originally meant more than public Christian social intercourse ... it means a
sharing in something, participating in something greater than the people involved and more lasting
than the activity of any given moment. It means being caught up into a communion created by God
... Divine fellowship centers around commitment to the truths (doctrines) of the Gospel ... There is
also fellowship in the Spirit and in His sufferings, both of which imply spiritual maturity. Fellowship
must be cultivated ... The Philippians were united, not on a social level, but by their commitment to
the truths of the gospel. (J.M. Boice) “Koinonia” anticipates “sugkoinonous” in verse 7, and will
mean their common participation with Paul in spreading the gospel. This really includes the idea of
united action on the one hand, and the concrete expression of their helpfulness, their gift to the
apostle, on the other. (W.R. Nicoll)