2841. koinóneó
Lexical Summary
koinóneó: To share, to participate, to have fellowship, to partake

Original Word: κοινωνέω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: koinóneó
Pronunciation: koy-no-NEH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (koy-no-neh'-o)
KJV: communicate, distribute, be partaker
NASB: share, shared, contributing, participates
Word Origin: [from G2844 (κοινωνός - sharers)]

1. to share with others (objectively or subjectively)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
distribute, partake.

From koinonos; to share with others (objectively or subjectively) -- communicate, distribute, be partaker.

see GREEK koinonos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2841 koinōnéō – to participate (share in), as an associate ("partaker"). See 2842 (koinōnia).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from koinónos
Definition
to have a share of
NASB Translation
contributing (1), participates (1), share (4), shared (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2841: κοινωνέω

κοινωνέω, κοινώνω; 1 aorist ἐκοινώνησα; perfect κεκοινώνηκα; (κοινωνός);

a. to come into communion or fellowship, to become a sharer, be made a partner: as in Greek writings with the genitive of the thing, Hebrews 2:14 ((so Proverbs 1:11; 2 Macc. 14:25)); with the dative of the thing (rarely so in Greek writings), Romans 15:27; (1 Peter 4:13).

b. to enter into fellowship, join oneself as an associate, make oneself a sharer or partner: as in Greek writings, with the dative of the thing, 1 Timothy 5:22; 2 John 1:11; ταῖς χεῖρας τίνος, so to make another's necessities one's own as to relieve them (A. V. communicating to the necessities etc.), Romans 12:13; with the dative of person followed by εἰς τί (as in Plato, rep. 5, p. 453 a.), Philippians 4:15; followed by ἐν with the dative of the thing which one shares with another, Galatians 6:6 (κοινωνησεις ἐν πᾶσι τῷ πλησίον σου καί οὐκ ἐρεῖς ἰδίᾳ εἶναι, Epistle of Barnabas 19, 8 [ET]); cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 8a.; (Buttmann, § 132, 8; Lightfoot or Ellicott on Galatians 1.

c. Compare: συγκοινωνέω.)

Topical Lexicon
Scope and Core Idea

The verb highlights active participation in something that belongs to another—whether blessings, needs, sufferings or sins. Every occurrence underscores that “sharing” is never neutral: it draws the participant into real moral and spiritual partnership for good or ill.

Patterns of New Testament Usage

1. Partnership in Material Support
Romans 15:27 – Gentile believers “shared in their spiritual blessings” and therefore minister financially to Jewish believers.
Philippians 4:15 – “No church but you partnered with me in the matter of giving and receiving,” Paul says, linking funds to gospel advance.
Galatians 6:6 – “The one who is taught the word must share in all good things with his instructor,” making provision for those who teach.
Romans 12:13 – “Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.” The verb frames generosity as fellowship, not mere charity.

2. Participation in Christ and His Redemptive Work
Hebrews 2:14 – The Son “shared in their humanity” to defeat the devil; divine solidarity secures human deliverance.
1 Peter 4:13 – Believers “share in the sufferings of Christ,” a cause for rejoicing that anticipates eschatological glory.

3. Cautionary Use: Avoiding Sinful Partnership
1 Timothy 5:22 – “Do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure,” warning leaders against complicity.
2 John 1:11 – Greeting false teachers means “shares in his evil deeds,” illustrating that hospitality can become endorsement.

Theological Threads

Participation and Obligation

Sharing in spiritual riches (Romans 15:27) places a moral debt on the recipient: spiritual gain should overflow in tangible service. The verb weds privilege to responsibility.

Christological Foundation

Jesus’ incarnational “sharing” (Hebrews 2:14) pioneers the pattern: He enters our condition, we enter His sufferings, and together we will share His glory (1 Peter 4:13). Christian fellowship is thus grounded in the incarnation and cross.

Communal Integrity

The same term that binds saints can implicate them in evil (1 Timothy 5:22; 2 John 1:11). Discernment governs fellowship; purity protects the gospel witness.

Historical Perspective

Early Christian writings outside the New Testament (e.g., Didache, Ignatius) echo this verb’s thrust—churches pooled resources for itinerant ministers and widows, saw martyrdom as “fellowship with Christ,” and guarded the table from heresy. The continuity suggests the apostolic teaching quickly shaped communal norms.

Ministry Implications Today

• Stewardship: Giving is more than funding projects; it is gospel partnership.
• Pastoral Caution: Ordination or public endorsement must never trivialize sin.
• Incarnational Witness: Entering others’ sufferings imitates Christ and validates proclamation.
• Discernment in Associations: Digital platforms expand the reach of false teaching; koinōneō warns that clicks and shares can become spiritual complicity.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 2841 calls believers to tangible, discerning, Christ-reflecting participation—sharing resources, sorrows and mission, while refusing any share in wickedness. Such fellowship, rooted in the incarnation and guided by holiness, nurtures both the unity and purity of the church.

Forms and Transliterations
εκοινωνησαν ἐκοινώνησαν εκοινώνησας εκοινώνησε εκοινωνησεν εκοινώνησεν ἐκοινώνησεν κεκοινώνηκε κεκοινωνηκεν κεκοινώνηκεν κοινωνει κοινωνεί κοινωνεῖ κοινώνει κοινωνειτε κοινωνείτε κοινωνεῖτε Κοινωνειτω Κοινωνείτω κοινωνήσαι κοινώνησον κοινωνουντες κοινωνούντες κοινωνοῦντες ekoinonesan ekoinōnēsan ekoinṓnesan ekoinṓnēsan ekoinonesen ekoinōnēsen ekoinṓnesen ekoinṓnēsen kekoinoneken kekoinōnēken kekoinṓneken kekoinṓnēken koinonei koinoneî koinōnei koinōneî koinṓnei koinoneite koinoneîte koinōneite koinōneîte Koinoneito Koinoneíto Koinōneitō Koinōneítō koinonountes koinonoûntes koinōnountes koinōnoûntes
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 12:13 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: τῶν ἁγίων κοινωνοῦντες τὴν φιλοξενίαν
NAS: contributing to the needs
KJV: Distributing to the necessity
INT: of the saints share hospitality

Romans 15:27 V-AIA-3P
GRK: πνευματικοῖς αὐτῶν ἐκοινώνησαν τὰ ἔθνη
NAS: the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things,
KJV: the Gentiles have been made partakers of their
INT: spiritual of them participated the Gentiles

Galatians 6:6 V-PMA-3S
GRK: Κοινωνείτω δὲ ὁ
NAS: the word is to share all
KJV: in the word communicate unto him that teacheth
INT: Let share moreover the [one]

Philippians 4:15 V-AIA-3S
GRK: μοι ἐκκλησία ἐκοινώνησεν εἰς λόγον
NAS: church shared with me in the matter
KJV: no church communicated with me as
INT: with me church had fellowship with regard to an account

1 Timothy 5:22 V-PMA-2S
GRK: ἐπιτίθει μηδὲ κοινώνει ἁμαρτίαις ἀλλοτρίαις
NAS: and thereby share [responsibility for] the sins
KJV: neither be partaker of other
INT: lay nor share in sins of others

Hebrews 2:14 V-RIA-3S
GRK: τὰ παιδία κεκοινώνηκεν αἵματος καὶ
NAS: the children share in flesh
KJV: as the children are partakers of flesh
INT: the children have partaken of blood and

1 Peter 4:13 V-PIA-2P
GRK: ἀλλὰ καθὸ κοινωνεῖτε τοῖς τοῦ
NAS: but to the degree that you share the sufferings
KJV: inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
INT: but as you have shared in the

2 John 1:11 V-PIA-3S
GRK: αὐτῷ χαίρειν κοινωνεῖ τοῖς ἔργοις
NAS: him a greeting participates in his evil
KJV: him God speed is partaker of his evil
INT: to him Hail partakes in the works

Strong's Greek 2841
8 Occurrences


ἐκοινώνησαν — 1 Occ.
ἐκοινώνησεν — 1 Occ.
κεκοινώνηκεν — 1 Occ.
κοινώνει — 2 Occ.
κοινωνεῖτε — 1 Occ.
Κοινωνείτω — 1 Occ.
κοινωνοῦντες — 1 Occ.

2840
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