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Koinonia

n.kind, thoughtfulformal

What it means

Close fellowship and shared spiritual participation within a Christian community.

Reach for it when using the theological term for communal participation, not generic friendliness

The retreat fostered koinonia through shared meals, prayer, and service.

Choose between these

5
  • everyday

    community

    the group and its relationships need plain language

    not when Community can exist without shared spiritual participation.

  • warm

    fellowship

    shared life and mutual support in a faith community are central

    not when Fellowship also means companionship or a funded academic post.

  • warm

    shared life

    daily mutual participation is being explained

    not when Shared life is a paraphrase and omits the term's theological history.

  • professional

    solidarity

    mutual commitment becomes practical support

    not when Solidarity is often political and does not carry sacramental meaning.

  • formal

    communion

    spiritual participation and unity are intended

    not when Communion can refer specifically to the Eucharist and may narrow the meaning.

Said against

3
  • alienation
  • division
  • isolation

It naturally appears in

3
  • Christian koinonia

    Christian koinonia shaped how the congregation shared resources.

  • spirit of koinonia

    A spirit of koinonia grew through meals prepared together.

  • practice of koinonia

    The practice of koinonia joined worship with material care.

Where this comes from

Koinonia is a Greek theological term used especially in Christianity. Fellowship is an incomplete translation.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.