Fellowship is an important concept in the Bible that refers to the communion, participation, sharing, partnership and companionship between believers. Here are some key Bible verses about fellowship:
Acts 2:42
“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
This verse describes the fellowship of the early church – meeting together, learning God’s word, sharing meals, and praying together. Christian fellowship is an essential part of the Christian life.
1 John 1:3
“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.”
John writes that believers can have fellowship with one another because of their common fellowship with God the Father and Jesus Christ. Our fellowship is based on our shared relationship with God through faith in Christ.
Philippians 2:1-2
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”
Paul urges the Philippians to be unified – of one mind and spirit. Genuine Christian fellowship requires humility, love, compassion and harmony.
Romans 12:10
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
An important aspect of fellowship is brotherly love and honor within the body of Christ. We are to love and value one another.
Galatians 6:2
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
An essential part of fellowship is bearing each other’s burdens – helping, supporting and praying for one another.
Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
We are exhorted to meet together regularly for worship, teaching and mutual encouragement. Isolated Christians lose the benefits of fellowship.
1 John 1:7
“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.”
Fellowship requires walking in God’s light and righteousness. The blood of Christ cleanses us and allows genuine fellowship.
Malachi 3:16
“Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name.”
Those who revere God enjoy fellowship with others who share their faith. God sees and remembers our fellowship.
Acts 4:32
“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.”
The early Jerusalem church shared their lives and possessions – evidence of their spiritual unity and fellowship.
Ephesians 4:1-6
“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”
Paul urges the church to live in harmony and peace, emphasizing the oneness that believers share through the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 1:9
“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”
It is God who calls us into fellowship with Christ and with one another. He is faithful to maintain our fellowship.
Acts 2:44-47
“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 favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
A beautiful description of fellowship and community within the early church – sharing, praying, worshiping and living together in grace and generosity.
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”
Paul uses the human body as an analogy for Christian unity and fellowship. Though we have different gifts and roles, we are interdependent members of Christ’s body.
Psalm 133:1
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”
The psalmist expresses the blessing and joy of harmony and oneness among God’s people.
2 Corinthians 6:14
“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”
While fellowship among believers is encouraged, we are to avoid spiritual fellowship with unbelievers. Righteousness and lawlessness are incompatible.
1 John 1:6-7
“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.”
Walking in sin breaks our fellowship with God and other believers. Cleansing by Christ’s blood enables true fellowship.
Philippians 1:3-6
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
Paul thanks the Philippians for their fellowship and partnership in spreading the gospel, evidence of God’s work in them.
Romans 15:1-2
“We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”
An important aspect of fellowship is bearing with one another’s weaknesses for their growth and edification.
Colossians 3:12-14
“Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.”
Paul describes fellowship behaviors – compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness, love. These enable church unity.
John 13:34-35
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Loving one another demonstrates that we are Christ’s disciples. It is the hallmark of genuine Christian fellowship.