Fellowship, the Neglected Principle
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.[1]
Fellowship is one of those misappropriated words marking contemporary English. Whenever we use the word fellowship, we know that we are in a religious setting. In fact, we are reasonably confident that when we hear people speaking of fellowship that we are in an evangelical setting. Almost invariably, whenever someone speaks of fellowship, we think of eating. Those who practise fellowship are well fed.
My concern is that few of us practise fellowship. One great reason we fail in our practise of fellowship is that we have no contemporary model of fellowship. On one occasion, I was listening to the broadcast of a message by Charles Swindoll. Those who have heard Charles Swindoll will know that he is a master of illustration. I regret that I cannot remember the precise broadcast, but I do recall one illustration that he used.
Swindoll served as a Marine and was stationed in Okinawa. There, he had one sergeant who was profane and coarse. If anyone was an unlikely candidate to become a Christian, it was this particular sergeant. Swindoll maintained his testimony as a Christian throughout his days in Okinawa, despite pressure to lower his standards. After his discharge from the Corps, he attended seminary and pastored several churches before receiving a call to pastor the First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, California.
One day, out of the blue, Pastor Swindoll received a call from this former Marine sergeant. The man had become a Christian, and he wanted Swindoll to know about his conversion. As you might imagine, both rejoiced over this conversation—the sergeant that he was a Christian and Swindoll because he had provided a positive influence which had served to point this rough man to salvation in Christ the Lord.
As they talked and reminisced, however, the former sergeant made a telling statement. “You know what I miss more than anything, Chuck? I miss the slop chute.”
The “slop chute,” for those who have never had the experience of serving in the USMC, is the enlisted man’s bar.
When I heard that illustration, I immediately connected. I knew precisely what that man meant. At the bar, people are friendly. Generally, you will build a circle of close friends who share the experience of conversation and drinking with you. You can speak out of your pain and still find acceptance. Just because you are hurting, others will hurt with you. You can laugh and others laugh with you. It really doesn’t matter if you are a millionaire or a pauper, your friends are glad to see you and they always welcome you. May I suggest that the church could learn something from the “slop chute.”
I’m not recommending that we make it a habit of frequenting bars, nor yet that we open a bar; but I do say that we should be ashamed that we have neglected the fellowship. Maybe we would do well to return to the pages of the New Testament where we can review the ideal which should be part of the congregation which is pleasing to the Lord. In order to pursue this ideal, I invite you to join me in review of the activities of the First Baptist Church of Jerusalem as recorded in the second chapter of Acts.
Fellowship Marks the Church Which Pleases God — Going to church is not the same as being the church. Let’s establish one great truth. The church which pleases God is a church characterised as the fellowship. The members of that church share their lives. Without question, God seeks fellowship with man, and when we walk according to His will, we enjoy fellowship both with Him and with one another.
John R. W. Stott says, “the word ‘fellowship’ was born on the Day of Pentecost.”[2] The reason for this statement is that Christian fellowship implies common participation with God. We should be concerned whenever fellowship becomes constricted, including just a few individuals. Biblical fellowship speaks of sharing our lives with one another, enjoying being with one another, and especially sharing in the study of the Word of God and the teachings which are presented within that Word. The Christians in this first church were one in Jesus and one in God the Father and they therefore quite naturally participated in a common life together.
Listen to a clarifying statement from John’s first letter which addresses this issue. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us [1 John 1:1-10].
Fellowship with God and fellowship with His people goes together. The stronger your fellowship with God, the stronger your fellowship with other believers. Those who are out of fellowship with God are likely also out of fellowship with other Christians.
Not only are we to enjoy fellowship with one another, but the union of saints is known as the fellowship. According to the Apostle, we who have believed were called into the fellowship of God’s Son, Jesus Christ our Lord [1 Corinthians 1:9]. What I would have you witness from the text is that the first disciples did not merely seek fellowship, but they endeavoured to be the fellowship. Study the first verse with me.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship [τῃ̂ κοινωνίᾳ][3] The translators failed to note the definite article in the original text. I checked a variety of Bibles, asking how translators have dealt with this definite article. To my surprise, fifteen out of twenty-two ignored the definite article. To these translators, the emphasis is upon fellowship, or sharing. However, the text makes it plain that what is in view is the commitment to the assembly. I have frequently cited Eugene Petersen’s refreshing treatment of the New Testament. He maintains the sense of what Doctor Luke was saying. They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together…[4]
Other translations have been equally careful to maintain the sense of what was first written. They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship.[5] They were giving constant attention to the teaching of the apostles and to that which they held in common with them.[6] Despite this brief review of versions which are careful to maintain the sense of what Doctor Luke wrote, it must be admitted that the majority of translations are focused on act and not on the life. The distinction is that between the fellowship as a corporate entity, and fellowship as an act. Did Luke mean to draw attention to eating meals together, or did he mean to draw attention to sharing the common life?
Dr. A. T. Robertson, the great Baptist linguist, employed considerable understatement when he wrote concerning the word fellowship as used in this verse: “Fellowship (koinōniāi) [is an o]ld word from koinōnos (partner, sharer in common interest) and this from koinos what is common to all. …There is wide diversity of opinion concerning the precise meaning of koinōnia in this verse.”[7]
I don’t suppose that my view will prove to be conclusive for everyone, but I am nonetheless compelled to state that I understand Luke to have focused on the entity and not on the action. Perhaps I can’t settle the debate, but I can make us aware of a vital issue which must be addressed. Luke is awakening us to the face that early Christians were not merely paper Christians, but they were partners in a common bond of love.
This partnership involves participation in the blood of Christ. Paul challenged the Philippians, asking them to review the impact of Christ to discover if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit [Philippians 2:1]. Fellowship entails co-operation in the work of the gospel. In the same Philippian letter, the Apostle assures the people that he prays for them with deepest gratitude, because of your partnership in the gospel [Philippians 1:5]. The phrase, participation in the Spirit is literally, fellowship in the Spirit [εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος], and the phrase partnership in the gospel is literally the fellowship in the gospel [τῃ̂ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμω̂ν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον]. Fellowship may be said to be a spiritual union with physical manifestations.
I might add as well that fellowship will lead us to share with fellow believers our wealth. The compassion of Christ must of necessity be expressed through the concern of believers for their fellow saints. You will recall that Paul was deeply impressed by what he witnessed among the Macedonian churches, not only because they were joyful and generous, but because they also pleaded for the favour of taking part in the relief of the saints [2 Corinthians 8:4]. Again, that phrase relief of the saints seeks to translate the Greek phrase τὴν κοινωνίαν τη̂ς διακονίας τη̂ς εἰς τοὺς ἁγίους,[8] which means more literally the fellowship of the ministry to the saints. Likewise, in 2 Corinthians 9:13, Paul is still speaking of a monetary contribution, which he calls the fellowship, though in my translation it is referred to as a contribution [τη̂ς κοινωνίας εἰς αὐτοὺς καὶ εἰς πάντας].
I have wandered rather far to bring the message to this point, and for the sake of clarity I must draw together the several strands which now hang loose. Fellowship, as referred to in our text speaks of our close relationship as Christians. “The Greek word used here (koinōnia) is one Paul often employed, but it appears only here in all of Luke-Acts. Its basic meaning is ‘association, communion, fellowship, close relationship.’ …Since it appears in a list in Acts 2:42, it is not easy to determine its exact nuance in this context. The key may be to see the terms ‘breaking of bread’ and ‘prayer’ in apposition to ‘fellowship.’ The meaning would then be that they devoted themselves to a fellowship that was expressed in their mutual meals and in their prayer life together.”[9]
Richard Rackham had it correct almost one hundred years ago, when he wrote: “Adhering to the apostolic teaching, the believers adhered to the Communion or Fellowship, i.e. not only to the fellowship of the apostles, but to The Fellowship. …Christianity is revealed … as The Fellowship—‘the communion of the saints.’
“This fellowship was begun by our Lord, when he called the apostles to leave all and follow him. So they formed a fellowship, living a common life and sharing a common purse. When the Lord was taken up, the common life continued: the most characteristic words in the early chapters of the Acts are all, with one accord, together. The great effect of the resurrection had been to transform this fellowship of disciples into an actual brotherhood (Jn xx 17).”[10]
The Fellowship worships the Lord Jesus Christ in community with other believers. The Fellowship prays together, seeks the face of God together, seizes every opportunity to mutually build one another in the love of Christ. The Fellowship is the shared expression of the reign of God’s Holy Spirit among His people. The Fellowship cares for the physical needs of those who share the Faith. Thus, The Fellowship is concrete and external, though it finds its foundation in the spiritual union of those who are born from above and into the Family of God.
The Fellowship has become, I suggest, a tragically rare entity in our modern world. We yearn for The Fellowship, and we seldom experience it. I am grieved to say that the one place I do not expect to find fellowship would be in the local church. Nevertheless, the one place I should be able to find fellowship is the local church.
The Fellowship Shares a Common Foundation — They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. You recall the setting, do you not? The disciples had invested ten days in prayer since the Risen Christ ascended into the glory, obscured from their sight by a cloud. Then, the Spirit of God was poured out in manifest power. Each disciple—male and female—began to speak as the Spirit of God enabled them. The result of these supernatural phenomena was that people from all over the city were drawn to the same area, and they heard in their own languages the glories of God.
Peter seized the opportunity to preach the first post-resurrection gospel message. He did not try to soften the blow to the conscience of those who heard him speak. What powerful preaching! This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it [Acts 2:23, 24]. Again, he pointedly warned his listeners in words which could not be misunderstood. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified [Acts 2:36]. Pierced through to the heart, those who heard Peter cried out, Brothers, what shall we do [Acts 2:37]?
The answer received from Peter was, Repent and be baptised every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit [Acts 2:38]. Note the impact of this call. Those who received his word were baptised, and there were added that day about three thousand souls [Acts 2:41]. Added? Added to what? They were added to the church—the one hundred twenty were the First Church of the Apostles. The condition of being added to that church was belief and open acceptance of the reign of Christ as Lord in one’s life. Confessing Christ as Lord, they were immersed, identifying with Him in His passion. They were united in the fellowship of the Spirit.
Paul will later write concerning our baptism and the union we experience in faith, in one Spirit we were all baptised into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit [1 Corinthians 12:13].
Baptised and committed to Christ, these young converts committed themselves to that to which Christ calls all men. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. They shared a doctrinal foundation. Consequently, they shared a deep unity, and not merely coalition. I express this particular distinction because I fear that much of what parades as modern Christianity is nothing less than a mere coalition with vague, shadowy principles of confederation.
There is constant, unremitting pressure to unite all the churches in our town. The proposed union has no foundation. I have been told that it doesn’t matter what we believe, as long as we are all together. I have resisted that pressure and I will continue to resist. It is not because I am opposed to good people, for there are no doubt good people in many of those churches. However, on what basis would we unite? If there is no sound foundation, there will never be unity. You underscore this truth in your minds: a coalition of professed Christians is no more a fellowship than is a flock of geese.
Some push for such a coalition because they believe that fellowship is social in nature. Perhaps fellowship is sharing a cup of coffee and a cookie. Perhaps it is when we shake hands and greet one another. That is the idea of fellowship some people hold—mere niceness or superficial friendliness. Joining with other Christians to sing songs, or to shout slogans, or to feel good about ourselves is not fellowship. Joining with others for one noisy crusade or another is not fellowship.
Others equate fellowship with institutionalism. They think of a great religious institution, such as the Roman Catholic Church or one of the vast Protestant communions, and they imagine that to be a fellowship. It is the corruption inherent in many of these institutions which keeps so many out of the churches. Do you think that fellowship means uniting in institutionalism? There is something wrong with an institution which will claim as adherents godless individuals such as Pierre Trudeau, who never darkened the door of a church and yet requested hymns at his funeral. Astonishingly enough, that request was granted. Surely, that is not fellowship! Surely, there is something flawed about any institution which can claim a Joe Clark or a Jean Chrétien as members without holding them accountable for Christian principles!
No! A thousand times no! As the fellowship of Christ, we are united in doctrine and in worship and in hope. These early Christian were one because they shared a common teaching which was given by the Spirit of God through the Apostles. They worshipped the Risen Son of God as Master, living as though He were alive and coming shortly. They united in a common hope as they voiced their prayers together. The local congregation is The Fellowship, and never is this more true than when the people unite around the teaching of Christ, when they worship Him as the Risen Master of life, and when they live together in hope of the resurrection.
I have been asked when I will agree to join the local ministerial association. My answer is that when those affiliated in that godless union agree that Jesus Christ is God, agree that He died a sacrificial death, was buried and raised bodily on the third day, agree that He ascended bodily into Heaven from whence He is surely coming again, agree that the forgiveness of sin and full salvation is granted to all who by faith receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, agree that the Bible is the inerrant and infallible Word of God—when they unite in this doctrine of Christ, then—and only then—will I join that crowd. Only when we are united in the teaching of Christ is there any possibility of fellowship. Let the remainder of that crowd make their little protests and pass their little resolutions, but I have work to do which was assigned by Him whom I call Lord.
I did not make this stance up; I received it from the Word of God. John warns, Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works [2 John 8-11].
I am compelled to state the following. I trust that I say it in a spirit of gentleness, but I also pray that you do not miss the impact of my words. There are some who would permit the world to go to hell in order to maintain the façade of niceness. Thinking the best of such professed Christians, I would say that they are ignorant and untaught. However, if they have received the Word of God and yet continue walking in darkness, attempting to substitute a coalition for unity, they reveal that they know nothing of grace.
Some who speak so sweetly have lives permeated with the stench of death. If I appear harsh in their eyes, it may be because I love Christ more than the praise of man. Of such individuals, I warn them in love to remember the words which the Apostle of love has written. They are from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error [1 John 4:5, 6].
The Fellowship Requires Mutual Submission — All who believed were together and had all things in common. Throughout the New Testament letters are a number of reciprocal commands. Reciprocal commands are simply those who require us to act in a certain manner toward one another. I was curious as to how frequently these commands are issued. From Romans through 2 John, I find at least fifty-two separate reciprocal commands. The Fellowship requires mutual care and concern for each other.
The Fellowship will require us to love one another, serve one another, care for one another, accept one another, encourage one another, build one another up, cease judging one another, and to bear one another’s burdens. If I understand the concept presented in the Word, The Fellowship is an active place. There is no place for drones. Each member of The Fellowship is gifted and the gifts which the Spirit has distributed are given so that we can build one another up in the Faith, so that we can console and encourage one another. The Fellowship is a growing entity, for those coming to faith quickly unite with others in order to fulfil the ministry which God assigns.
John MacArthur ably addresses this issue. Listen to him. “For a Christian to fail to participate in the life of a local church is inexcusable. In fact, those who choose to isolate themselves are disobedient to the direct command of Scripture. Hebrews 10:24-25 charges believers to ‘consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.’ The Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived apart from other believers. All members of the … body of Christ, are to be actively and intimately involved in local assemblies.”[11]
Simply stated, we who are Christians, who have been forgiven our sin and who have been born into the Family of God, are responsible to seek out The Fellowship and to invest our lives in that Body. We are called to join the assembly, investing our gifts in the lives of our fellow servants and ourselves enjoy the benefits of being built up in the Faith. There is no example of an unchurched—or unfellowshipped—Christian in the whole of the New Testament, and I contend that it is impossible for a Christian today to maintain his or her testimony outside the fellowship of the local congregation.
The church is not so much an organisation as it is a living organism. The Fellowship is the Body of Christ. The province demands that we organise the church as a social/political entity; it must be an inclusive democracy in order to meet their concerns. They are concerned for rights of the members and the conduct of church meetings. The Fellowship, however, is alive and vibrant. It is equally concerned both with rights and with responsibilities of the members. The fellowship is concerned with honouring the Head of the Body—Christ the Lord.
Therefore, The Fellowship is always seeking how to complete the process of discipleship. You see, we are concerned about evangelism—winning the lost to faith in the Living Son of God. Need I remind you that our Great Commission is not complete until discipleship is complete? We are to make disciples, baptise them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then we are to observe all that the Master commanded [see Matthew 28:19, 20]. You see, the investment of ourselves in one another is nothing less than the ongoing discipleship process. Each of us has a role and each of us has a place here in The Fellowship.
The Fellowship Demands Mutual Concern — They were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favour with all the people. “The act of sharing possessions was a practical demonstration of a more fundamental fellowship of a spiritual nature. Fellowship was the reality of the unity of faith and love and joy that characterised these early believers. In the structure of the sentence the word is not intended to imply that this was the apostles’ fellowship to which others were admitted. It was instead the fellowship of the Spirit in which all alike participate (cf. 2 Co 13:14).”[12]
Doctrinal unity is the foundation for The Fellowship. In order for The Fellowship to be healthy, mutual submission is required as each member invests himself in each other member. Obviously, this anticipates mutual concern for one another. Christians actually love one another. Love is another word which has been lost from our vocabulary. When we hear the word, we become sentimental and think in terms of feelings. Christian love is never passive; it is always active. Love dares.
The Fellowship which resulted from the presence of God’s Spirit on that glorious Day of Pentecost, continued. Some time later, after persecution had begun, the Spirit directed Luke to again review the condition of The Fellowship. This is what he wrote.
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need [Acts 4:32-35].
This is not a command, nor is it even necessarily to be taken as normative for a congregation. However, relief is the natural outgrowth of Christian concern and compassion. The Fellowship was united. There was doctrinal harmony. Thus, the members were of one heart and soul. They were concerned for one another, and thus no member went without. What is amazing about this commentary is that it was voluntary and spontaneous. The Spirit of God reigned supreme among the people and they voluntarily cared for their own. In this is a model for The Fellowship even to this date.
I have said before, and I will no doubt say again, there should be no Christian compelled to live on welfare. The Fellowship should be sensitive to needs as they arise and take immediate action to care for the problem. This does not mean that we must tolerate drones or encourage laziness. We care enough to teach that industry honours God who gives us health and life. We care enough to compel the indolent to work and to insist that those who are inclined to shiftless and slothful behaviour must work with their own hands. We care enough to insist upon training and education as a means of equipping the child of God for future productivity.
Salvation, the forgiveness of sin, will result as we are born into the Family of God. Saved, we will love the brotherhood of believers. We will seek out The Fellowship, and we will unite with those blessed saints where we can share our gifts and unite in worship of Christ the Lord. The mutual concern we will experience will lead us to hold one another accountable as Christians.
Would you like to know for certain whether you are a Christian? I can administer a simple test that will quickly tell you if you are a Christian. “Would you rather spend time with the humblest people who are Christians than with the greatest who are not? It is as simple as that.”[13] This is not ultimately a test of what you believe, but it is rather a test of what has happened to you. Having believed, you are transformed. The first saints were concerned for one another and sensitive to the needs demonstrated among them. Thus it is that those who believe today are changed, and concern and compassion mark the people of God.
This is the call of the message, then, to faith in the Son of God that you, also, may be transformed. The plea of the message is that you would come to faith in the Living Son of God that you may be prepared to seek union with The Fellowship. This is the means by which we are changed into His likeness.
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” [Romans 10:9-13].
You who have believed, what excuse do you give to my Master that keeps you from uniting with The Fellowship? Is it that you refuse baptism as He has commanded of those who have believed? Away with your disobedience! Obey His command that you may begin to enjoy the power of His presence and the joy of His blessing. Is it that you are still bound up in the grave clothes which mark some institution or another? Be done with such foolishness and bring your gifts to The Fellowship where God would have you serve. Let each Christian honour Him who saves by investing life and gifts in The Fellowship wherein He places us. Amen.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship [τῃ̂ κοινωνίᾳ].
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together…
They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship.
They were giving constant attention to the teaching of the apostles and to that which they held in common with them.
Dr. A. T. Robertson, the great Baptist linguist, employed considerable understatement when he wrote concerning fellowship as used in this verse: Fellowship (koinōniāi) [is an o]ld word from koinōnos (partner, sharer in common interest) and this from koinos what is common to all. …There is wide diversity of opinion concerning the precise meaning of koinōnia in this verse.
This partnership involves participation in the blood of Christ. Paul challenged the Philippians, asking them to review the impact of Christ to discover if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit [Philippians 2:1]. Fellowship entails co-operation in the work of the gospel. In the same Philippian letter, the Apostle assures the people that he prays for them with deepest gratitude, because of your partnership in the gospel [Philippians 1:5]. The phrase, participation in the Spirit is literally, fellowship in the Spirit [εἴ τις κοινωνία πνεύματος], and the phrase partnership in the gospel is literally the fellowship in the gospel [τῃ̂ κοινωνίᾳ ὑμω̂ν εἰς τὸ εὐαγγέλιον]. Fellowship may be said to be a spiritual union with physical manifestations.
“The Greek word used here (koinōnia) is one Paul often employed, but it appears only here in all of Luke-Acts. Its basic meaning is ‘association, communion, fellowship, close relationship.’ …Since it appears in a list in Acts 2:42, it is not easy to determine its exact nuance in this context. The key may be to see the terms ‘breaking of bread’ and ‘prayer’ in apposition to ‘fellowship.’ The meaning would then be that they devoted themselves to a fellowship that was expressed in their mutual meals and in their prayer life together.”
Richard Rackham had it correct almost one hundred years ago, when he wrote: “Adhering to the apostolic teaching, the believers adhered to the Communion or Fellowship, i.e. not only to the fellowship of the apostles, but to The Fellowship. …Christianity is revealed … as The Fellowship—‘the communion of the saints.’
“This fellowship was begun by our Lord, when he called the apostles to leave all and follow him. So they formed a fellowship, living a common life and sharing a common purse. When the Lord was taken up, the common life continued: the most characteristic words in the early chapters of the Acts are all, with one accord, together. The great effect of the resurrection had been to transform this fellowship of disciples into an actual brotherhood (Jn xx 17).”
John MacArthur ably addresses this issue. Listen to him. “For a Christian to fail to participate in the life of a local church is inexcusable. In fact, those who choose to isolate themselves are disobedient to the direct command of Scripture. Hebrews 10:24-25 charges believers to ‘consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.’ The Bible does not envision the Christian life as one lived apart from other believers. All members of the … body of Christ, are to be actively and intimately involved in local assemblies.”
“The act of sharing possessions was a practical demonstration of a more fundamental fellowship of a spiritual nature. Fellowship was the reality of the unity of faith and love and joy that characterised these early believers. In the structure of the sentence the word is not intended to imply that this was the apostles’ fellowship to which others were admitted. It was instead the fellowship of the Spirit in which all alike participate (cf. 2 Co 13:14).”
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[1] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Ó 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[2] Stott, John R. W., “The Sovereign God and the Church,” in Our Sovereign God: Addresses Presented to the Philadelphia Conference on Reformed Theology 1974-1976, ed. James M. Boice, Grand Rapids, MI, Baker, 1977, 160
[3]Black, Matthew, Carlo M. Martini, Bruce M. Metzger, and Allen Wikgren. The Greek New Testament, Ac 2:42. Federal Republic of Germany: United Bible Societies, 1997, c1982.
[4]Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: New Testament With Psalms and Proverbs, Ac 2:1. Colorado Springs, Colo.: NavPress, 1995.
[5]American Bible Society, The Holy Bible: Today's English Version, 2nd ed., Ac 2:42. New York: American Bible Society, 1992.
[6]Wuest, Kenneth S. The New Testament: An Expanded Translation, First published in 3 vols., 1956-59, under title: Expanded translation of the Greek New Testament. Ac 2:42. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997, c1961.
[7] Robertson, A. T., Word Pictures in the New Testament, Acts, Volume III, Nashville, TN, Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, 1930, 37-8
[8]Black, et al. op. cit.
[9] Polhill, John B., The New American Commentary: Acts, Volume 26, Nashville, TN, Broadman, 1992, 119
[10] Rackham, Richard B., The Acts of the Apostles: An Exposition, Grand Rapids, MI, Baker, 1978 reprint of 1908 edition, 34-5
[11] MacArthur, John, Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Acts 1-12, Chicago, IL, Moody, 1994, 84
[12] Harrison, Everett F., Acts: The Expanding Church, Chicago, IL, Moody, 1975, 65
[13] Lloyd-Jones, Martyn, Studies in the Book of Acts: Authentic Christianity, Volume 1, Wheaton, IL, Crossway Books, 2000, 140