Greek word · G2841

κοινωνέω

koinōneō

to participate

From koinos, "common, shared." The verb means (1) to have a share in something along with others (Rom 15:27; 1 Pet 4:13), and (2) to give others a share, to contribute (Rom 12:13 "contributing to the needs of the saints"; Phil 4:15).

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

κοινωνέω, -ῶ

[in LXX: 2 Chronicles 20:35, Job 34:8, Ecclesiastes 9:4 (חָבַר), Proverbs 1:11, Wisdom of Solomon 6:23, Sirach 13:1, al. ;]

to have a share of, go shares in (something) with (some one), take part in: with genitive of thing(s) (as usually in cl., so Pr, l.with), Hebrews 2:14; with dative of thing(s), Romans 12:13 15:27, 1 Timothy 5:22, 1 Peter 4:13, 2 John 11; with dative of person(s), before εἰς, Philippians 4:15; ἐν, Galatians 6:6 (cf. συν-κοινωνέω).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Galatians 6:6

Range of meaning

From koinos, "common, shared." The verb means (1) to have a share in something along with others (Rom 15:27; 1 Pet 4:13), and (2) to give others a share, to contribute (Rom 12:13 "contributing to the needs of the saints"; Phil 4:15). Both senses rest on the idea of partnership: a koinōnos was a business partner or co-owner (Luke 5:10).

Against the English

BSB, WEB, YLT, ESV, NIV and NASB say "share," which is accurate. KJV's "communicate" was accurate in 1611, when it meant "to impart, make common." Today it sounds like "talk to," so modern readers lose the meaning. NLT's "provide for" keeps the material sense but loses the idea of partnership.

How it drifted

English "communicate" narrowed over time to the exchange of information. The older sense of making something common or shared now survives mostly in "communion" and "community."

Used elsewhere in the period

In the papyri the koinōn- word group is commercial and legal: partnerships, joint ownership. In Phil 4:15 Paul uses business language: no church "partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving" (ekoinōnēsen eis logon doseōs kai lēmpseōs). Rom 15:26–27 calls the collection for Jerusalem a koinōnia and argues that gentiles who shared in Jerusalem's spiritual goods owe it material help. Sirach 13:1–2 and the LXX use the verb for associating with someone.

From the study of Romans 12:13

Range of meaning

To have something in common with someone, to take part or share in something (with the dative of the thing shared in), to be a partner, and from there to give someone a share of your goods. Its family (koinōnos "partner", koinōnia "fellowship, partnership, contribution") covers business partnership, shared life, and money given as a sign of that shared life.

Against the English

KJV "distributing" and ESV/WEB "contribute" make it sound like one-way giving, as if handing out aid. BSB/NIV "share with" is closer. Strictly, the dative construction says you share in the needs: the need becomes something you hold in common with the person who has it.

How it drifted

Modern charity is often pictured as a donor helping a recipient at a distance. In Greek the word starts from the idea of partnership, which ties giver and receiver together.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the papyri the koinōn- words are common for business partners. Paul uses the verb for the Gentile churches' gift to Jerusalem: they "shared in" Israel's spiritual blessings and so owe a share of material goods (Rom 15:26–27; cf. 2 Cor 8:4; 9:13). Phil 4:15 uses it of the Philippians entering into a giving-and-receiving partnership with Paul. Gal 6:6 has the learner "sharing" good things with the teacher. Acts 2:42–44 links koinōnia with holding things "in common" (koina).

From the study of Romans 15:27

Range of meaning

To share, have a part in, be a partner in something held in common. It can mean receiving a share ('share in') or giving a share ('contribute to') (Romans 12:13; Galatians 6:6).

Against the English

English 'shared in' is accurate, but readers miss that Paul uses this word family on purpose. Verse 26 calls the gift a koinōnia ('contribution', 'fellowship-gift'), and verse 27 uses koinōneō for what the Gentiles received.

Used elsewhere in the period

In Greek papyri the word family is common for business partnerships and joint ownership. Paul uses koinōnia for the collection in 2 Corinthians 8:4 and 9:13.

Similar words

Where it appears

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 12:13 κοινωνοῦντες, contributing,

    Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

    Here: "Sharing in, being partners in." You treat the other person's lack as partly your own and meet it from what you have. The present participle describes an ongoing habit, and in this string of clauses it works as a command.

  2. Romans 15:27 ἐκοινώνησαν shared

    They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual blessings, they are obligated to minister to them with material blessings.

    Here: With the dative it means 'to get a share in' something owned in common. It echoes the noun koinōnia ('contribution', literally 'sharing') in verse 26. The Gentiles were given a share, and now their gift is their sharing back.

Galatians · 1

  1. Galatians 6:6 κοινωνείτω should share

    Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.

    Here: A command in the third person ("let him share"), in the present tense, so it means an ongoing habit, not a single gift. It means sharing as partners: the student makes the teacher a partner in what he has. Coming first in the sentence, it carries the weight.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 4:15 ἐκοινώνησεν partnered

    And as you Philippians know, in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 5:22 κοινώνει do share

    Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

    Here: 'Share in, be partner to.' This is the language of partnership and joint stake. Approving someone makes you a co-signer of what they then do. It is complicity, not personal temptation.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 2:14 κεκοινώνηκεν have partaken

    Now since the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,

    Here: A perfect tense: the children have shared, and go on sharing, a common human nature. It describes their settled condition. They hold it in common with one another as the ordinary lot of humanity.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 4:13 κοινωνεῖτε you have shared

    But rejoice that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed at the revelation of His glory.

    Here: Present tense: 'you are sharing', something going on now. It pictures the readers as co-sharers with Christ in one common lot, the way partners hold a business in common.

2 John · 1

  1. 2 John 1:11 κοινωνεῖ partakes

    Whoever greets such a person shares in his evil deeds.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.