1. Biblical Foundations
1.1. Terms
The Gk. noun koinōnia and related words—with the root meaning “(have in) common, communal; have a share or part (in something); go partners in”—occurs some 119 times in the Bible (J. Reumann). There is no corresponding term in Hebrew, little of significant use in the LXX, and no use by Jesus. The background of this word lies in secular Greek, where it meant, for example, “(business) partner” (Luke 5:10) or “possessions held in common” (see Acts …