Saturday, October 17, 2009

Koinonia

Phil. 2:1 π Ei“ tiß ou\n para◊klhsiß e∆n Cristw/Ç, ei“ ti paramuvqion a˙ga◊phß, ei“ tiß koinwni√a pneuvmatoß, ei“ tiß spla◊gcna kai… oi∆ktirmoi√,

Phil. 2:2 plhrw◊sate√ mou th;n cara˝n i”na to; aujto; fronh:te, th;n aujth;n a˙ga◊phn e“conteß, suvmyucoi, to; e’n fronou:nteß,

Phil. 2:3 mhde…n kat= e∆riqei√an mhde… kata˝ kenodoxi√an a˙lla˝ th≥: tapeinofrosuvnh≥ a˙llhvlouß hJgouvmenoi uJpere√contaß eÔautwÇn,

Phil. 2:4 mh; ta˝ eÔautwÇn e”kastoß skopou:nteß a˙lla˝ (kai…) ta˝ eÔte√rwn e”kastoi.

The encouragement of Paul to his churches includes this beautiful call to fellowship or Koinonia in the Greek. Here he asks "if there be any fellowship of the Spirit", some have interpreted this as "fellowship brought about by the Spirit". Not a great difference but one that might put the emphasis back on us the believers and the need for us to manifest the spirit.