κοινωνός (koinōnos)
koinōnos
participant
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 10 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun koinōnos describes a partner or sharer in something shared. It moves beyond simple association to imply active participation and mutual involvement. In the New Testament, it appears ten times, often highlighting deep relational bonds between people or between believers and spiritual realities.
Its meaning shifts with context. Paul calls Philemon his koinōnos, a fellow worker in the faith (Philemon 17). He uses it to describe partners in gospel service (2 Corinthians 8:23) and those who share in Christ’s sufferings (2 Corinthians 1:7). The word also warns against sharing in idolatry, contrasting the table of the Lord with the table of demons (1 Corinthians 10:20).
This term captures the essence of fellowship. It is not passive companionship but active engagement. Whether describing human partnership or spiritual alignment, koinōnos emphasizes that participants are bound together by what they share.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word koinōnos invites us into a life of shared reality rather than distant observation. It describes someone who actively participates in what another possesses or experiences. This is not merely being present at an event, but having a stake in its outcome and bearing its weight. When we read that believers are partakers of the divine nature, it suggests that our connection to God transforms us from the inside out.
This deep involvement extends to our relationships with others. We are called to stand with those who suffer and to work alongside those who serve. Such partnership requires vulnerability and trust. It means that your joys and struggles are not isolated incidents but shared experiences within the body of Christ. This mutual bond strengthens us all as we navigate the challenges of faith.
Ultimately, this term reminds us that we were never meant to walk alone. Our faith is lived out in community, where we support one another through comfort and hardship alike. By embracing these active connections, we reflect the very nature of God who shares His life with us. May you find encouragement in knowing that your participation matters deeply.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 10 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- partners3×
- partakers2×
- fellow partakers2×
- a partner,1×
- a partaker,1×
- [he is] partner1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- κοινωνοὶ5×
- κοινωνός,1×
- κοινωνόν,1×
- κοινωνὸς1×
- κοινωνοὺς1×
- κοινωνοί1×
Key Verses
-
II Peter 1:4
by which he has granted to us his precious and exceedingly great promises; that through these you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world by lust.
This verse highlights the profound spiritual reality that believers share in God's own nature through His promises.
-
Philemon 1:17
If then you count me a partner, receive him as you would receive me.
Paul uses this term to request that Philemon receive Onesimus with the same dignity and love he would show Paul himself.
-
II Corinthians 1:7
Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so you are also of the comfort.
The author connects the experience of suffering directly to the shared experience of divine comfort among believers.