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κοινωνία

koinōnía

G2842 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Participation, sharing in a common interest or activity; association characterized by commonality, mutual involvement, or joint contribution. In specific contexts, it can denote active partnership, contribution to a cause or need, or intimate social association. Extends to both tangible (material assistance, purchase in common) and intangible (spiritual solidarity, shared beliefs) domains.

Semantic Range

participation, sharing, joint partnership, fellowship, mutual association, contribution, communal relationship, distribution

Root / Etymology

From the Greek root κοινων- (koinōn-), related to κοινός (koinos, 'common, shared'). Forms from the noun ending -ία (-ia) indicating a state, condition, or practice. Cognate with κοινωνός (koinōnos, 'participant,' 'partner'). The underlying sense is one of 'having in common.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, κοινωνία primarily denoted partnership, association, and sharing in common—ranging from business ventures and joint property to philosophical community and political participation. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, including the Septuagint and New Testament, the term expands to signify a network of social, spiritual, and sometimes material bonds. In early Christian literature, κοινωνία often refers to the mutual support, unity, and participation among members of assemblies, sometimes specifically the act of contributing financially to support others (e.g., Romans 15:26; 2 Corinthians 9:13). It also designates participation in spiritual realities, such as 'fellowship with' the divine or with other believers (1 John 1:3, 6–7; 1 Corinthians 10:16). Standard English renderings like "fellowship," "communion," or "contribution" reflect only segments of its full semantic field. Notably, κοινωνία does not intrinsically denote religious ritual or sacramental acts, though it is later used for such in ecclesiastical tradition.

Translation Consistency

primary "share" 19 occurrences

'Share' is a natural, flexible base that captures the primary semantic range of koinōnía — participation, mutual contribution, and communal association — including both material support and spiritual fellowship. It accommodates the common English renderings (sharing, shared, participation, fellowship) while keeping a single, consistent base for all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from κοινωνός; partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:--(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship.

Root Family

κοινων- (koinōnéō) — to share, to participate, to have in common

Root κοινων- to share, to have in common, to participate
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2841 κοινωνέω they shared
G2843 κοινωνικός sharing‑minded ones
G4790 συγκοινωνέω Co-participate
G4791 συγκοινωνός joint participant

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2842-01 κοινωνίᾳ koinonia N DAT F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation 9
G2842-02 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation 7
G2842-03 κοινωνίας koinonias N GEN F SG sharing of shared participation of shared participation 3

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2842-01 Acts 2:42 κοινωνίᾳ koinonia N DAT F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation
G2842-02 Romans 15:26 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG a contribution shared participation shared participation
G2842-02 1 Corinthians 1:9 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
G2842-01 1 Corinthians 10:16 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG communion in shared participation in shared participation
G2842-01 1 Corinthians 10:16 κοινωνία koinonia-2 N NOM F SG communion in shared participation in shared participation
G2842-01 2 Corinthians 6:14 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG communion in shared participation in shared participation
G2842-02 2 Corinthians 8:4 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
G2842-03 2 Corinthians 9:13 κοινωνίας koinonias N GEN F SG sharing of shared participation of shared participation
G2842-01 2 Corinthians 13:13 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation
G2842-03 Galatians 2:9 κοινωνίας koinonias N GEN F SG of fellowship of shared participation of shared participation
G2842-01 Philippians 1:5 κοινωνίᾳ koinonia N DAT F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation
G2842-01 Philippians 2:1 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG fellowship in shared participation in shared participation
G2842-02 Philippians 3:10 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
G2842-01 Philemon 1:6 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation
G2842-03 Hebrews 13:16 κοινωνίας koinonias N GEN F SG sharing of shared participation of shared participation
G2842-02 1 John 1:3 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
G2842-01 1 John 1:3 κοινωνία koinonia N NOM F SG fellowship in shared participation shared participation
G2842-02 1 John 1:6 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
G2842-02 1 John 1:7 κοινωνίαν koinonian N ACC F SG fellowship shared participation shared participation
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