“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
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Nowadays fellowship is defined as “the condition of being together or of sharing similar interests or experience, as do members of a profession, religion, or nationality; the companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms; a union of friends or equals sharing similar interest” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition). Originally, however, the word was a bit more limited in its meaning.
The word “fellow” comes to English from an Old Norse word meaning “business partner.” In Old English the word meant “one who lays down [invests] money in a joint undertaking with others,” and the first Modern English definition given for “fellow” by the Oxford English Dictionary is “co-worker.” This is precisely how the Bible defines “fellow” the second time it uses the word:
“And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?” (Exodus 2:13And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?
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The original meaning of “fellow” as a co-worker is also evident in the compound nouns that the Bible forms by attaching “fellow” to words associated with work: yokefellow, workfellow, fellowworker, fellowlabourer, fellowservant, fellowhelper, fellowdisciple, and fellowsoldier[i] (John 11:16Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
See All...; Romans 16:21Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
See All...; 2 Corinthians 8:23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
See All...; Philppians 2:25
See All... and 4:3
See All...; Colossians 4:7All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:
See All...,11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
See All...; Philemon 1-2, 24; and 3 John 8).[ii]
Fellowship Defined
Although churches and professing believers often refer to “food, fun, and fellowship,” the Bible offers a much different picture of fellowship.[iii] In its first appearance in the Bible, the word “fellowship” clearly refers to a type of “business” (that is, a working) partnership:
“If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor;” (Leviticus 6:2If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
See All..., in context of verses 1-7).
Even improper fellowship is a working partnership, and fellowship with darkness involves unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
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As a working partnership (something in which two or more people take part), “fellowship” is an equal yoking, a communion (having things in common), a concord, and an agreement:
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? …” (2 Corinthians 6:14-46 [14] Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.
[18] And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
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Fellowship Desired
God saves people so that they can work (Ephesians 2:10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
See All...). Specifically, He saves them so that they can work for Him and in fellowship with Him. For that reason, the Lord’s invitation to salvation in Matthew 11:28-30 [28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
See All... is an invitation to work with Him and learn more about Him: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.”[iv] A yoke couples animals so that they work as a team (Luke 14:19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
See All...),[v] and when believers labor in fellowship with the Lord, their “burden” is light because they do the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 16:10Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
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“God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
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“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high.
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The preaching and ministry of the early church was actually “the Lord working with them, confirming the word” (Mark 16:20And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
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Furthermore, God calls believers to assemble together so that they can work in partnership with Him. Believers who are in fellowship with Christ will also be in fellowship with fellow believers.
“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
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The “fellowship of believers” is a busy-ness in which believers work together as partners “in the gospel,” doing so for (and with) their Savior (Philippians 1:3-7 [3] Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
[4] Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
[5] Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye will not believe, though it be told you.
[6] For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.
[7] They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
See All...).[vi] God does not call believers to compete against each other over numbers, personal gains, and individual accomplishments (1 Corinthians 1:12-13 [12] Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
[13] Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
See All... and 3:3-9 [3] God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.
[4] And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power.
[5] Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet.
[6] He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.
[7] I saw the tents of Cushan in affliction: and the curtains of the land of Midian did tremble.
[8] Was the LORD displeased against the rivers? was thine anger against the rivers? was thy wrath against the sea, that thou didst ride upon thine horses and thy chariots of salvation?
[9] Thy bow was made quite naked, according to the oaths of the tribes, even thy word. Selah. Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers.
See All...). Such divisive competition characterizes a world obsesses with sports and vain awards, and it'’ wrong. After all, if persecuting the church is persecuting the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:9For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
See All... and Acts 9:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
See All...), if doing something for “the least” of the brethren is doing something for the Lord (Matthew 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
See All..., 45), if sinning against the brethren is sinning against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
See All...) then competing against other believers is competing against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is impossible to compete against a “partner and fellowhelper” in the ministry of the gospel (2 Corinthians 8:23Whether any do enquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be enquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ.
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Consider the example of the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
See All...). Did he regard the Philippian believers as competitors? No, they were his partners (“partakers of my grace,” Philippians 1:7They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
See All...)[vii] who gave themselves to God and to each other in a fellowship of ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-5 [1] Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
[2] How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
[3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
[4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
[5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
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Nor did Paul regard other ministers as competitors.
“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Galatians 2:9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
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The ‘right hands of fellowship” are more than friendly handshakes; they seal a covenant working agreement between partners. Paul and Barnabas were called to minister to Gentiles; Peter and John initially were called to minister to Jews. Rather than competing against each other, they worked together to minister the gospel to all men, Jews and Gentiles – and God worked with them (Acts 2:47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
See All... and 15:4
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Fellowship Hindered
A busy-ness/working partnership is possible only among like-minded people who agree on what needs to be done (and why):
“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
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In the case of believers, true fellowship is possible only among like-minded “children of light” who love God (and each other), declaring the truth of God’s word (1 John 1:3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
See All...) and walking “in the light” that God gives through His holy words to those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:12Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
See All...; Ephesians 5:8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
See All..., 14; Psalm 119:105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
See All...,130).
“be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, off one mind” (Philippians 2:2And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
See All..., in context of verses 1-11).
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
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Sin therefore hinders any type of fellowship with other believers. Sometimes a believer’s sin causes him to separate himself from others, as when Peter separated himself from the believers at Antioch.
“he withdrew himself, and separated himself,” (Galatians 2:12For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
See All..., in context of verses 11-15).
Other times, however, a believer’s sin forces others to separate from him.
“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
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“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
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“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them” (Romans 16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
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Sin also severs a believer’s fellowship with God.
“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee?” (Psalm 94:20Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
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“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
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“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
See All..., compare 1 John 2:15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
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Over and over, the Bible illustrates this sad truth. Adam and Eve once enjoyed daily communion with God as they worked for Him in the garden (Genesis 2), but they later hid themselves from their Creator after sin severed their fellowship with him (Genesis 3). Young David joyfully served God and killed giants and wild beasts (1 Samuel 17), but King David lost his joy and murdered an innocent man after his shameful sin severed his fellowship with God (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51:12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
See All...). At one time Jonah faithfully served the Lord his God (2 Kings 14:25He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gathhepher.
See All...), yet he later hid himself in a ship and attempted to flee to Tarshish because his sinful disobedience severed his fellowship with the Lord, (Jonah 1). Peter once boasted that he would follow the Lord to prison and even death (Luke 22:33And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.
See All...), but he later tried to return to his life as a commercial fisherman after his sinful denial of the Lord severed his fellowship with Him (John 21).
In addition to severing a believer’s fellowship with God, sin starts a working partnership with unrighteousness and devils:
“I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Corinthians 10:20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
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“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
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Sadly, fellowship with devils precludes partaking in the Lord’s business, and spiritual adulterers who love the world more than they love their Savior (thus working in fellowship with the Lord’s enemies) provoke God to jealousy (1 Corinthians 10:21-22 [21] Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
[22] Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
See All...; James 4:4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
See All...; 1 John 2:15Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
See All...).
Fellowship Restored
Only repentance and confession of sin can restore a broken fellowship (1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
See All...). David’s fellowship with God was restored when he confessed his sin (2 Samuel 12:13And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
See All...; Psalm 51), and with a restored working relationship with God, he ruled mightily over Israel, and towards the end of his life could truthfully say, “I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God” (2 Samuel 22). Jonah’s fellowship with God was restored after he confessed his sin and prayed (Jonah 2), and with a restore working relationship with the Lord, Jonah preached mightily and God used his message to bring the entire city of Nineveh to repentance (Jonah 3). Peter’s fellowship with God was restored after he bared his heart and confessed the Lord three times (John 21), and with a restored working relationship with the Lord, Peter preached mightily on the day of Pentecost and worked faithfully throughout Acts 1-15.
Fellowship Essential
A working relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely essential. Without Him we can do nothing of value, but through Him we can do anything God asks of us.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 [4] Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. [5] I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
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“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13
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Because fellowship with Christ hinges on fellowship with fellow believers, and because fellowship with other believers hinges on obeying the scriptures and living a Christ-honoring life (1John 1:7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
See All...), God’s people need to work in a Bible-believing partnership with the Lord and with each other, ministering all the true words of God to other people for the glory of God.
[i] Long before American politicians popularized phrases such as “brother in arms” and “brothers in combat” soldiers and sailors called each other “fellows”
[ii] In contemporary English, a “fellow” is a comrade of associate of the same kind, group occupation, society, or locality; having in common certain characteristics or interest” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition). This meaning is evident in some of the Bible’s uses of the word (for example, judges 11:37
See All..., Isaiah 34:14The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest.
See All... and Matthew 11;16. Notice, by the way, that according to Judges 11:37-40 [37] And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. [38] And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. [39] And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel, [40] That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.
See All..., the word “fellow” can refer to a woman as well as to a man). Because of the implied insult in verses such as 1 Samuel 21:15Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
See All... and 29:4
See All..., the word “fellow” could also serve as a derogatory word (Matthew 12:24But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
See All... and 26:61
See All..., 71; Luke 22:59And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean.
See All... and 23:2
See All...; John 9:29We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
See All...; and Acts 17:5But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
See All..., 18:13
See All..., 22:22
See All..., and 24:5
See All...).
[iii] For example, Acts 2:42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
See All... distinguishes fellowship from eating (“breaking of bread”) and connects it instead with doctrine.
[iv] Believers learn about their Savior by studying the Bible – and Bible study in turn produces unashamed “workmen” who labor under God’s approval (2 Timothy 2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
See All...).
[v] The Lord does not invite believers to work in fellowship with Him because He actually needs the help of “unprofitable servants” who do only what they’re commanded to do (Luke 17:10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
See All...). He invites them to join with Him because He genuinely desires and enjoys their company.
[vi] According to Luke 24:15And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
See All..., when believers commune together, the Lord Himself draws near and goes with them.
[vii] A “partnership” is any endeavor (spiritual or carnal) in which each person involved takes part (Luke 5:7-10 [7] And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. [8] When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. [9] For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: [10] And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
See All...; Philemon 7). A person who takes part in something is a part-taker, or “partaker” of it (1 Corinthians 8:23
See All...; Ephesians 5:7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
See All...; 2 John 11).
[viii] Even the world recognizes that he word “company” refers to a business (or working) partnership, as in “Sears, Roebuck, and Company.”All Rights Reserved. LearntheBible.org is using this material by permission from the author.