Philippians is an incredible book. One that abounds with rejoicing. The word joy, or a derivative of that word, is used 16 times in the four short chapters. Yet remarkably, Paul is writing this letter while he is in prison.
They say that Roman prisons were a place of squalor. They were dirty, dingy, filthy warrens created for misery. But here is Paul, so encouraged that he is rejoicing all throughout the letter to the Philippians.
This was because Epaphroditus, a fellow gospel worker from the church in Philippi, was able to find Paul and bring good news and encouragement as well as a gift from the Philippians to him.
Philippi may have been miles away, but the Christians there were united with Paul in the mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the world. And it is in response to this fellowship that Paul writes this joy-filled letter.
We at London City Mission desire to be champions of gospel partnerships with churches and supporters, and we pray that together, we would increasingly value these partnerships. Our view of partnerships can be greatly enriched as we consider Paul's heart for these brothers and sisters who partnered with him in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.
What is this partnership that so encouraged Paul? It is embodied in the Greek word, koinonia.
Koinonia is translated in many ways in the New Testament. Also known as fellowship, participation, communion, intimacy, aid relief, or joint ownership, the word is rich in meaning.
Mutual sacrificial participation. Reciprocation or exchange. Application or exchange for a shared cause or vision. Every one of these phrases are important.
They may not be what you had in mind when considering partnership. Nonetheless, this is what we’re talking about when we consider koinonia.
Which true gospel partnerships are at the heart of koinonia? They are expressed in the very opening paragraphs of the letter to the Philippians.
Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,
To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:1-2, ESV)
Here we see four sets of gospel partners. Often, we think about Paul's letters as being from Paul. And yet Paul is very intentional about identifying those who participate in the communication of those letters.
In those short opening verses, we see who is involved in koinonia:
All true koinonia stems from, and is an expression of, the koinonia of the Godhead – that trinitarian love, commitment and partnership between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the reason and source of all true koinonia. There is no true fellowship apart from him.
The term fellowship, as we often use it today, seems to indicate Christian socialising. We have ten biscuits and a cup of coffee after the service with other Christians and call that fellowship.
But fellowship should go much deeper than that.
Our fellowship is not just something we do, but it stems from who we are. Because we are in Christ, we are in fellowship with God! Now that is incredible.
True koinonia is for all those who possess God's peace because they are recipients of God's grace in Christ Jesus. That salutation wasn't just a salutation. It is fundamental to our identity in God.
It provokes prayer. It provokes joy! It brings about partnership in a mutually shared vision – to see the gospel spread to the ends of the earth.
The partnership the Philippians shared with Paul was a risk. At risk were their own reputations, maybe even their own safety.
Paul was identified as a criminal. Those who associated with him could find themselves in the place where they seemed to be consorting, conspiring with, or aiding and abetting a criminal.
And yet, they were active partakers.
This gospel partnership has a sense of tangible value to it. We see this in Philippians 4:15.
To paraphrase, Paul says:
And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
This material support is inherent within the understanding of koinonia, as understood by the use of the word in the original culture. It was commonly associated with joint ownership, which for Christians took the expression of financial support in addition to prayer.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labour for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (Philippians 1:21-26)
Given the choice to be with the Lord or to stay and give himself to fruitful ministry, Paul said he would postpone paradise.
Paul said he would postpone paradise because of his commitment to this partnership with the Philippians.
That is how precious our partnerships are with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, our supporters and the churches we partner with to reach those least likely to hear the gospel in London.
This is something we must always remember. Today at London City Mission, we are grateful that through your support and koinonia fellowship, we serve churches across the city and beyond, understanding their vision for local mission and providing the tools to help them achieve it.
As an evangelical mission organisation we seek to follow and uphold the Bible as the word of God, and we are diligent to only partner with churches who hold fast to the gospel. By partnering with like-minded churches, we can bring the love and hope of Christ to even more people, and work together to see the gospel change lives and communities.
Just as the early church shared their resources and lives with one another, we believe that our partnership with churches today reflects koinonia, working together to see people come to know Jesus for themselves.
Your partnership with London City Mission is also a testament to the power of koinonia. Together, we are able to reach out to those who are most in need, to provide practical support and to share the truth of Christ with those who may not have heard it before.
We thank God for you. By God’s grace you make this outreach possible through your sacrificial support of our missionaries through prayer and financial giving.
This article was first published in our free quarterly magazine, Changing London. For stories like this and much more subscribe to our next edition here!
LCM shares the gospel alongside the local church of London, equipping everyday Christians to lovingly bring a message of hope in Christ to those least likely to hear it.
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