The Fellowship of The Holy Spirit
What is this “Fellowship of the Holy Spirit”? The Greek term, koinonia, refers to things shared together. In Acts 2:42 it is one of four formative things shared by the new community: apostolic teaching, prayers, meals, and possessions. More than “good feeling all around” fellowship was very practical; specific deeds of a shared life in a community where all have been given the Holy Spirit.
Letters by the apostle Paul should be seen as formation of specific Christian communities like the troubled church at Corinth (2 Cor. 1:1). Paul’s initial greeting is “grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 1:2). His closing greeting is “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Cor. 13:14). What is this fellowship of life received from and lived in/by the Holy Spirit? First, this text is an affirmation of life from and shared with the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We affirm what we cannot understand.
I limit my inquiry by reading 2 Corinthians and asking what comes between 1:2 and 13:14 noting uses of “fellowship” and “Holy Spirit.” Again, we may affirm what we may not fully comprehend. 1:7 – Fellowship in suffering and in comfort from God. 1:21-22 – God establishes us with you, anointing us with seal of Holy Spirit and giving us his Spirit as a guarantee. 3:3, 6 – You are a letter from Christ delivered by us written with the Spirit of the living God on tablets of human hearts . . . the Spirit gives life. 3:6, 8, 14, 17 – Ministry of a new covenant not of letter but of the Spirit. Ministry of the Spirit has more glory. Those turning to the Lord (who is the Spirit) have freedom, and are changed from one degree of glory to another. 5:5 – We are groaning in this tent/mortal body longing to be clothed with life from God who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. 9:13 – The practical work of collecting money for relief of saints in Jerusalem is “fellowshipping” for them and all others.
While all these passages need to be read, discussed in context, and applied in ours today, there is ample cause for Paul to affirm the “Fellowship of the Holy Spirit” as he closes this letter. May we speak this benediction with added comprehension as we close our services today.
—Tom Yoakum