Prioritizing Fellowship with Other Believers Daily
The concept of "fellowship" (Greek: koinonia) among believers is a foundational aspect of Christian life, emphasizing shared participation and communion. The Apostle Paul frequently highlights this, as seen in his thanksgiving for the Philippians' "fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now" [1]. This fellowship extends beyond mere association; it signifies a deep spiritual connection and mutual involvement in the Christian faith and its propagation [8].
Biblical texts underscore the importance of active participation in this fellowship. Paul prays that the "fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ" (Philemon 1:6 LEB) [3]. This suggests that fellowship is not passive but should lead to a deeper understanding and manifestation of Christian virtues. The author of Hebrews exhorts believers "not giving up our meetings, as is the way of some, but keeping one another strong in faith; and all the more because you see the day coming near" (Hebrews 10:25 BBE) [2]. This passage directly addresses the necessity of regular communal gathering for mutual encouragement and spiritual strengthening, especially as the return of Christ approaches.
The nature of this fellowship involves mutual acceptance and support. Romans 15:7 encourages believers to "accept each other," which Tyndale House interprets as more than grudging tolerance. It means welcoming fellow believers, with their imperfections, into one's fellowship and treating them as family, just as Christ has accepted all believers despite their flaws [5]. This acceptance is rooted in Christ's own example of welcoming sinners [5].
Daily exhortation and spiritual growth are also integral to Christian fellowship. John Gill, commenting on Hebrews 3:13, notes that believers should "exhort one another daily" to prevent unbelief and apostasy [6]. This daily encouragement can take various forms, such as discussing divine matters, praying together, instructing one another in Gospel doctrines, reminding each other of God's covenant and promises, and anticipating eternal happiness with Christ [6]. While ministers have a primary role in exhortation, it is a responsibility shared by all believers [6]. John Calvin emphasizes the need for believers to "examine themselves daily, and see how far they have advanced" in faith and love [4]. He also states that believers should continually strive for progress, recognizing that "no one will travel so badly as not daily to make some degree of progress" [10]. This continuous self-assessment and striving for improvement are part of the communal journey of faith [4, 10].
Fellowship also implies a shared life in the light, where communion with God is intrinsically linked to communion with other believers. As Tyndale House notes on 1 John 1:7, "Believers have fellowship with each other and with God as they live in the light" [7]. It is inconsistent to claim communion with God while refusing fellowship with God's people [7]. This was a point of contention with Gnostics, who separated spiritual communion from communal life [7].
The practical outworking of fellowship includes mutual care and support. Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion teaches that since all good things come from God, believers should be prepared to share what they have received with one another as occasion demands [9]. This mutual assistance is a demonstration of love and commitment within the Christian community [9]. Charles Hodge, in his Systematic Theology, highlights the importance of social prayer, including family prayer and prayer in congregational assemblies, as a vital means of grace [11]. He points to Christ's own example of frequent prayer, suggesting that if even Jesus needed such communion with God, his followers should not neglect this practice [11]. Hodge advises that each day should "at least, begin and end with God" [11].
Sources
- Philippians “Philippians 1:5 (Webster) — For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;”
- Hebrews “Hebrews 10:25 (BBE) — Not giving up our meetings, as is the way of some, but keeping one another strong in faith; and all the more because you see the day coming near.”
- Philemon “Philemon 1:6 (LEB) — I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective in the knowledge of every good thing that is in us for Christ.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 71.2: for in this way we have more success among those who have already entered upon the course, when without passing over in silence their former progress, we remind them how far distant they are as yet from the goal, and stir them up to make progress. As, however, he had in the former Epistle commended their faith and love, he now declares the increase of both. And, unquestionably, this course ought to be pursued by all the pious — to examine themselves daily, and see how far they have advanced. This, therefore, is the”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 15:7: 15:7 To accept each other means more than grudgingly putting up with each other. We are to welcome other believers, with all their flaws and sins, into our fellowship and treat them as family (see study note on 12:10), just as Christ has accepted us, with all our flaws and sins, into his fellowship and family (5:8-11).”
- Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 3:13: But exhort one another daily,.... In order to prevent unbelief and apostasy. The phrase is sometimes rendered, "comfort one another", or, "yourselves together", as in Th1 5:11 which the saints may do, by discoursing together about divine things; by praying together; by instructing one another in the doctrines of the Gospel; by putting one another in mind of the covenant of grace, and its promises; and by observing the near approach of everlasting happiness with Christ. And though the business of exhortation greatly belongs to ministers of the word, yet it ought not t”
- 1 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 John 1:7: 1:7 Believers have fellowship with each other and with God as they live in the light. People cannot say they commune with God and then refuse to have fellowship with God’s people. This was the case with the Gnostics. The apostles of Christ had known Jesus Christ as God-in-the-flesh and were continuing to have spiritual fellowship with him (1:3).”
- Philippians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Philippians 1:5: Ground of his "thanking God" (Phi 1:3): "For your (continued) fellowship (that is, real spiritual participation) in (literally, 'in regard to') the Gospel from the first day (of your becoming partakers in it) until now." Believers have the fellowship of the Son of God (Co1 1:9) and of the Father (Jo1 1:3) in the Gospel, by becoming partakers of "the fellowship of the Holy Ghost" (Co2 13:14), and exercise that fellowship by acts of communion, not only the communion of the Lord's Supper, but holy liberality to brethren and ministers (Phi 4:10, Phi 4:”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: we all obtain whatever is good is our common Father ( Mt. 23:9 ), every thing which has been distributed to us we should be prepared to communicate to each other, as far as occasion demands. But if we are thus desirous as we ought, to stretch out our hands and give assistance to each other, there is nothing by which we can more benefit our brethren than by committing them to the care and protection of the best of parents, since if He is propitious and favourable nothing more can be desired. And, indeed, we owe this also to our Fath”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 61: his humble ability enables him, and prosecute the journey once begun. No one will travel so badly as not daily to make some degree of progress. This, therefore, let us never cease to do, that we may daily advance in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the slender measure of success. How little soever the success may correspond with our wish, our labour is not lost when to-day is better than yesterday, provided with true singleness of mind we keep our aim, and aspire to the goal, not speaking flattering things to ”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 73: vi. 6 .) The Bible presents to us the example of the people of God, and of our blessed Lord himself, as a rule of conduct on this subject. We read that Christ often retired for the purpose of prayer, and not unfrequently spent whole nights in that exercise. If the spotless soul of Jesus needed these seasons of converse with God, none of his followers should venture to neglect this important means of grace. Let each day, at least, begin and end with God. Social prayer includes family prayer, and prayer in the assemblies of the people for s”