What Does the Word Communion Mean in the Bible

[box]RVWD is my abbreviation for Religious Vocabulary Word of the Day. (You can read my introduction to the RVWD series here.) I do not intend for these word investigations to be exhaustive, but I hope they stimulate some thinking about assumptions. Possibly they will help with honest evaluations about what is truth and what is unnecessary baggage in life. [/box]
The Bible does not talk about “taking” communion. When it uses the word communion, it means, “to share, to participate, to recognize fellowship that is enjoyed.” (See Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words). In other words, those people with “things in common” are by default bound together by their shared status or experience. Communion is not an event, it is more a state of being.
The same Greek word, koinonia, which is so frequently mentioned when discussing the idea of “fellowship,” is translated four times as “communion” in the King James Version (KJV) and the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible. I could not find communion as a word in the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, the English Standard Version, the New International Version, or even the New Living Testament paraphrase (NLT) (using the blueletterbible.org search tool). In those translations, the Greek is more often rendered “fellowship,” “sharing,” or “partnership.” Even in the KJV and the NKJV, communion is easily seen to be meaning “that which is done together because of bonds already established.”
If the occurrences of koinonia are followed in the Biblical text, it becomes apparent that life as believers in Jesus Christ involves “communion” in many areas. When the occasion calls for it, they share what they can with those in need (Acts 2:42, 11:29), they share in sufferings and hope (Phillipians 3:10), they have common experiences and interests (Galatians 2:9), they realize the common benefits from God’s Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14), and various meals are taken together, sometimes being spoken of using the metonym of “breaking bread” (Acts 2:46, 20:11). Lastly, there is the clear message that “light” and “dark” cannot have communion (1 Corinthians 10:16).
There are a couple of references to “the Lord’s Supper” in most of the translations of the Bible (a lot for some reason in the New Living Translation, as they seem to assume that “breaking bread” means the Lord’s Supper), as being an aspect of the general communion of believers in Jesus Christ. But how this “supper” is done is left rather vague. I plan to do more of a study on the phrase “the Lord’s Supper” in another article. Until then, I will suggest to you that there is reason to suspect it was not a solemn ritual overseen by clergy.
My English dictionary also list aspects of sharing as the first three definitions of communion. (See Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th edition.) Remember, the definitions in the dictionary are listed in order of historical use. Thus, choosing to engage in personal acts, by sharing material goods or private thoughts, are important in the original meaning of the word communion.
It is worth noting that the act of sharing implies ownership. A person cannot share that which he has no claim to. He can use it, but not share it. Even on a spiritual level, the Christian’s status is obtained by grace, but then is a “sonship” and an inheritance, both now and future. It is not some nebulous oneness with the universe.
It wasn’t until the “Late Latin Ecclesiastical” (LL[Ec]) period that the word communion became a reference to a religious sacrament. The LL[Ec] is associated with the rise of the medieval Catholic religion and it’s use of Latin to standardize and approve religious practices. Much of this use of religious vocabulary has carried over into non-Catholic religious organizations of all languages.
In essence, the word communion in Christian life, as it is used in the Bible, seems to denote meaningful, encouraging, happy relationship. It requires interaction as real life unfolds. It grows due to love and grace. It is based on truth, and promotes peace and unity. There is no ritual substitute.