In a world where “connection” is often reduced to a Wi-Fi signal or a social media follow, the concept of fellowship has lost much of its original weight. We often equate it with a Sunday morning greeting or a potluck dinner. However, according to the first letter of John, true fellowship is far more visceral and profound.
By “apostolic fellowship,” we are looking at the signs—or marks—of connection as practiced in the days of the apostles. If our modern church services don’t reflect these marks, we may be gathering, but we aren’t necessarily “sharing.”
The Core of Koinonia: More Than Just Proximity
The Greek word for fellowship is koinonia, which translates to sharing, participation, or partnership. At its heart, to have fellowship means to share something in common.
Contrary to popular belief, fellowship isn’t strictly about being in the same room. It is a spiritual bond that can transcend distance. Think of the old adage, “birds of a feather flock together.” Birds gather because they already share a nature; they don’t get the nature by gathering. Physical fellowship is simply the culmination of having something in common.
The apostles shared three specific things that defined their bond: Revelation, Commission, and Joy.
1. Shared Revelation
The apostles didn’t gather around a set of “cleverly devised tales.” They gathered around a shared, lived experience of the Living Word.
“What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life…” — 1 John 1:1
Revelation vs. Understanding
It is vital to distinguish between these two concepts. True fellowship is built on the former:
| Feature | Understanding | Revelation |
| Source | Gained through study and intellect. | Received as a divine act from God. |
| Nature | Human effort to comprehend. | An experience of God’s self-disclosure. |
True fellowship happens because there is a shared revelation. We aren’t just reading the same book; we are experiencing the same Person. Whether through general revelation (creation) or special revelation (Scripture and Christ), the Father reveals the Son to us, creating a common ground that the world cannot replicate.
2. Shared Commission
Apostolic fellowship is also a partnership in a burden. The apostles were obsessed with proclaiming what they had seen and heard (Acts 4:20). There was no “personal revelation” that contradicted the group; they spoke the same message because they had seen the same Truth.
Contending for the Faith
In Jude 3, we are urged to “contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down.” This “faith” refers to the core doctrines of the apostles.
- Broken Fellowship: When people drift from this apostolic faith, fellowship is broken. John notes that those who “went out from us” did so because they were no longer “of us” doctrinally (1 John 2:19).
- The Goal of Proclamation: We cannot proclaim what has not been revealed to us. When we share the same commission—ministering the Gospel to the world—we experience a unity of purpose.
3. Shared Joy
John concludes his introduction by stating, “These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete” (1 John 1:4).
Shared commission inevitably leads to shared happiness. Think of it like a group of friends who have all seen the same incredible movie; they could spend hours talking about it, their excitement feeding off one another. That is the apostolic joy of ministry.
Why “Complete” Joy?
Does this mean the apostles were unhappy until people were saved? Not at all. Their primary source of joy was Christ. However, seeing others receive the same revealed life “completes” or overflows that joy.
- The Sower and the Reaper: Jesus taught that both would “rejoice together” in the harvest (John 4:36).
- The Ultimate Gathering: Our joy will be fully completed when everyone who has “heard, seen, and touched” the same Christ is finally gathered at His feet.
Conclusion: Diagnosing Your Fellowship
As we look at our local congregations in 2026, we must ask: Are we settling for superficial fellowship?
Superficial fellowship is based on material things, social status, or outward interests. It offers a temporal “buzz” but no eternal bond. Genuine fellowship requires us to:
- Desire to see the same truth in the Word of God.
- Join together in the work of the Gospel.
- Delight in the body of believers.
Without shared revelation, we are just a fragmented group of individuals. Without shared commission, we have no common goal. Without shared joy, we have no reason to stay together. But when these three marks are present, we don’t just attend a service—we participate in the very life of the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
