KOINONIA MEANING
Koinonia (coy NO nyah) is a transliterated form of the old Greek word, κοινωνία,
The word has such a multitude of meanings that no single English word is adequate
to express its depth and richness! It means communion, joint participation; the share
which one has in anything. Koinonia is a complex, rich, and thoroughly fascinating
approach to building community or teamwork.
In classical Greek, koinonein means "to have a share in a thing," as when two or more
people hold something, or even all things, in common. It can mean "going shares" with others, thereby having "business dealings" such as joint ownership of a ship. It can also imply "sharing an opinion" with someone, and therefore agreeing with him, or disagreeing in a congenial way. Only participation as a contributive member allows one to share in what others have. What is shared, received or given becomes the common ground through which Koinonia becomes real.
