Comfort of Fellowship in Times of Isolation
The comfort of fellowship in times of isolation is a recurring theme in Christian thought, rooted in biblical passages that emphasize unity, mutual support, and shared faith. The Apostle Paul, for instance, expressed a desire to be "comforted together among you, through the faith in one another, both yours and mine" (Romans 1:12 YLT) [2]. This highlights the reciprocal nature of comfort found within a community of believers.
The Old Testament also speaks to the goodness of communal living, as Psalm 133:1 declares, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" (KJV) [1]. This sentiment underscores the inherent value and pleasantness of shared life among God's people.
Early Christian writers, such as John Chrysostom, frequently emphasized the importance of fellowship. He noted the profound comfort disciples found in seeing their master and brethren, particularly when separated by distance or persecution. Chrysostom illustrated this by imagining the scenario of believers scattered in foreign lands, emphasizing the immense joy and consolation of encountering a fellow believer [5]. He also connected love and friendship to the strength of the community, stating that "love is far mightier than fear" in guarding believers [10]. This love is expressed in common prayers and shared experiences, which he saw as the source of "all good things" [12].
The New Testament further develops this concept, urging believers to be "hospitable to one another, without murmuring" (1 Peter 4:9 YLT) [3]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary clarifies that this hospitality is not merely a worldly custom but a genuine Christian love extended to those in need, especially those exiled for their faith, who are seen as representatives of Christ. This hospitality should be offered "without grudging" or "murmuring," but with "open-hearted sincerity" and "cordiality" [6].
The Apostle Paul, in Philippians, speaks of "consolation in Christ," "comfort of love," and "fellowship of the Spirit," alongside "compassion and mercy" as sources of encouragement within the Christian community (Philippians 2:1 Geneva1599) [4]. John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, interprets Paul's words in 2 Corinthians as finding comfort in the "comfortable situation the church was in," particularly when believers demonstrated "godly sorrow" and genuine repentance, leading to the church's "flourishing condition" [8]. Gill also notes that Paul sent messengers to churches to inform them of his affairs and "comfort your hearts," recognizing that believers can be disconsolate due to sin and other struggles [9].
Even in times of extreme isolation, such as John's exile on Patmos, the sense of community remained. The Tyndale House Commentary on Revelation notes that despite his separation, John shared a "sense of community" with other Christians in their suffering, grounded in their shared hope in God's Kingdom and willingness to endure [11]. This demonstrates that even when physically apart, the spiritual bond of fellowship can provide comfort.
While fellowship offers profound comfort, the absence of it can lead to a different kind of solace, albeit a "melancholy satisfaction." The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown Commentary on Ezekiel describes the comfort of not being alone in downfall, but having "other kingdoms companions in his downfall," though this is described as a "very poor one" [7]. This highlights the distinction between the positive comfort of shared faith and the negative comfort of shared misfortune.
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 133:1 (KJV) — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
- Romans “Romans 1:12 (YLT) — and that is, that I may be comforted together among you, through the faith in one another, both yours and mine.”
- I Peter “I Peter 4:9 (YLT) — hospitable to one another, without murmuring;”
- Philippians “Philippians 2:1 (Geneva1599) — If there be therfore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of loue, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any compassion and mercie,”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on Acts & Romans: that time, how great a good it was both for disciples to see their master, and for brethren who had come from another city to be seen of brethren. But that I may make what I am saying plainer, let me bring the matter to an example. For if it should even happen and come to pass (may it never do so!) that we had been carried away to the land of the Persians or Scythians or other barbarians, and had been scattered (7 mss. “torn asunder”) by twos and threes in their cities, and were then suddenly to see any one of those here coming to us, reflect what a ”
- 1 Peter (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Peter 4:9: (Rom 12:13; Heb 13:2.) Not the spurious hospitality which passes current in the world, but the entertaining of those needing it, especially those exiled for the faith, as the representatives of Christ, and all hospitality to whomsoever exercised from genuine Christian love. without grudging--Greek, "murmuring." "He that giveth, let him do it with simplicity," that is open-hearted sincerity; with cordiality. Not secretly speaking against the person whom we entertain, or upbraiding him with the favor we have conferred in him.”
- Ezekiel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ezekiel 32:31: comforted--with the melancholy satisfaction of not being alone, but of having other kingdoms companions in his downfall. This shall be his only comfort--a very poor one!”
- 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 7:13: Therefore we were comforted in your comfort,.... In the comfortable situation the church was in; not in their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, but in the effects of it as a godly sorrow; by which it appeared that their repentance was genuine, and that they were clear in the matter that had given so much trouble; and that things had so well succeeded for the welfare and more comfortable estate of the church for the future. The comfortable estate, flourishing condition, and well being of churches, yield great pleasure and consolation to the ministers of th”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 6:22: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose,.... Which shows the great concern the apostle had for the churches, being willing to inform them of everything that might be for their use and service: that ye might know our affairs; temporal and spiritual, and not only the apostle's affairs, but the affairs of those that were with him, who were concerned in the same common cause: and that he might comfort your hearts; both by such a relation, and by the ministry of the Gospel to them: believers in Christ are sometimes disconsolate, by reason of indwelling sin, S”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: guarded by so many spearmen cannot suffer harm. For the king’s body guards are not equal in their strictness to these. The one perform their watch through compulsion and fear, the others through kindness and love; and love is far mightier than fear. The king fears his own guards; the friend is more confident in them than in himself, and by reason of them fears none of those that plot against him. Let us then engage in this traffic; the poor man, that he may have consolation in his poverty; the rich, that he may possess his wealth in safety; the rule”
- Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 1:9: 1:9-11 This third introduction (see study note on 1:1-11) is historical; it shows God communicating with humanity in historical events. God gave John a significant mission while in exile. 1:9 your brother and your partner: Though separated from other Christians by his imprisonment, John shared a sense of community with them in suffering, based on hope in God’s Kingdom and a willingness to endure. • The Roman fortress on the island of Patmos housed prisoners and exiles. Patmos was in a group of islands that protected the thriving seaport of Miletus. • for preach”
- CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: is the greatest proof of friendship. For this cause we salute one another at the Mysteries, that being many we may become one; and in the case of the uninitiated, 2259 2259 i.e. non-communicants. we make our prayers common, supplicating for the sick, and for the produce of the world, for land and sea. Seest thou all the power of love? in the prayers, in the Mysteries, in the exhortations? This is that which causeth all good things. If we hold carefully to this, we shall both rightly dispense things present, and also obtain the Kingdom; which may we ”