Greek word · G4791

συγκοινωνός

synkoinōnos

sharer

A joint partner or co-participant: someone who shares something together with others. The koinōn- family covers partnership, common ownership and shared participation, as in a business partnership or shared table fellowship.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

συν-κοινωνός (Rec. συγκ-), όν,

partaking jointly of: with genitive of thing(s), Romans 11:17, 1 Corinthians 9:23; id. with genitive of person(s), Philippians 1:7; before ἐν, Revelation 1:9.†

(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 Romans 11:17

Range of meaning

A joint partner or co-participant: someone who shares something together with others. The koinōn- family covers partnership, common ownership and shared participation, as in a business partnership or shared table fellowship. The prefix syn- ("with") adds a second layer of togetherness: a sharer alongside others who are also sharing.

Against the English

KJV and NASB ("with them partakest," "partaker with them") keep the "with." BSB/NIV/ESV ("share in") lose it, so the sentence can read as if the Gentile simply received the root's benefit and the remaining natural branches drop out of view.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare word. Paul uses it elsewhere for co-sharers in the gospel (1 Cor 9:23) and in his affliction (Phil 1:7), and Revelation 1:9 has John as "co-sharer in the tribulation." The prefixed form always implies other sharers who are present.

From the study of 1 Corinthians 9:23

Range of meaning

"Co-partner, fellow-sharer," someone who holds a share in something together with others (BDAG). It builds on κοινωνός, "partner, sharer," the ordinary word for a business partner or a fellow member of a group. The συν- prefix stresses the togetherness.

Against the English

The KJV "partaker" and the WEB/NASB "joint/fellow partaker" keep the bare idea. The NIV/BSB/NRSV/ESV phrase "share in its blessings" adds the word "blessings" to the text. That narrows the meaning to receiving benefits and drops the idea of joint stake in the gospel's work. The KJV's "with [you]" and the ESV's "with them" fill in the unnamed partners.

How it drifted

Translators add "blessings" to make the sense smoother, because "become a co-sharer of the gospel" sounds odd in English. In doing so they commit to one interpretation.

Used elsewhere in the period

Rare outside Christian writings. In the NT it appears in Rom 11:17 (Gentiles as "sharers" in the olive tree's rich root), Phil 1:7 (the Philippians as "co-sharers of grace" with Paul in his imprisonment and defence of the gospel), and Rev 1:9 (John as "co-sharer" in tribulation, kingdom and endurance). The plain form κοινωνός is common in papyri for business partners and appears in Luke 5:10 for Simon's fishing partners.

From the study of Philippians 1:7

Range of meaning

Co-partner, joint sharer, fellow participant (BDAG). It is formed from koinōnos ('partner, sharer') with the prefix syn- ('together with'). Koinōnos and koinōnia are used widely for business partnerships, shared ownership and common participation in something.

Against the English

KJV 'partakers' sounds passive, like receiving a share. BSB and NIV 'partners' or 'share' is closer. The word implies active joint involvement in a common venture, with shared stakes and shared risks.

How it drifted

'Fellowship' (the usual rendering of the related word in v. 5) has drifted in church English toward socialising, as in potlucks or a 'fellowship hall'. That obscures the hard-edged, partnership sense these words carried.

Used elsewhere in the period

Koinōnos is used in Luke 5:10 of James and John as Simon's business 'partners'. Koinōnia is used in papyri for commercial partnerships. Paul uses the related verb of the Philippians' financial gifts in 4:14–15: 'you shared (synkoinōnēsantes) in my affliction… no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving except you alone'. Compare Rom 11:17 and 1 Cor 9:23 ('that I may be a co-sharer in it').

Similar words

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 11:17 συγκοινωνὸς a fellow-partaker

    Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root,

    Here: Built from koinōnos, "partner, sharer," with the prefix syn-, "together with." The grafted shoot shares the tree's life together with the natural branches. It does not hold the tree on its own.

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:23 συγκοινωνὸς a fellow partaker

    I do all this for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

    Here: "One who shares together with others." The συν- ("with") prefix means Paul pictures himself sharing the gospel alongside other people, not on his own. The verse does not say who those others are.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 1:7 συγκοινωνούς fellow partakers

    It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. For in my chains and in my defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are all partners in grace with me.

    Here: 'Fellow-partners'. The word is built on the koinōnia ('partnership') of v. 5 with an extra prefix meaning 'together with'. They are co-owners in the same enterprise.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 1:9 συγκοινωνὸς fellow-partaker

    I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance that are in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and my testimony about Jesus.

    Here: One who shares something together with others. The 'co-' prefix doubles the idea of partnership. John doesn't just sympathise with their situation. He holds an equal share in it.

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