LiTERATDRE.— Meyer's Com. on St. Matthew; EUicott, His- torical Lectures on the Life of Our Lord^ p. 353 ; Andrews, Bible Student's Life of Our Lord^, p. 462 f.
John Reid. FELLOWSHIP.—
Neither the word 'fellowship* (xoivuvia.) nor any equivalent term occurs in the Synoptic Gospels, but the reality in faith, love, and joy is diffused like the fragrance of the flowers of Galilee through that bright spring: of the world's life. As we pass to the Acts and Epistles, especially the Pauline, the word is found in a variety of meanings. Most frequently it is trans- lated ' fellowship ' (Ac 2''2, 1 Co 19, 2 Co 6" 8^, Gal 29, Ph 15 21 310). It is rendered ' communion ' in 1 Co 1016 (RVm ' participa- tion in') and 2Col3U; 'contribution' (AV 'distribution') in 2 Co 913, cf. Ro 1526; 'communication' (RV 'fellowship') in Philem 6, cf. He 1316. ThouR-h ».,»^»,a occurs only three times in the Johannine writings (1 Jn l^'- «■ ^), they are peculiarly rich in the religious ideas which give the term its content. The con- ception of fellowship in the NT is not exhausted by the varied significations of any one word ; it becomes plain only as we comprehend the meaning of the life of the Early Church.
i. Inherited forecast.?. — Like most of the great religious conceptions of the NT, this idea has its roots deep in the OT. Isaiah proclaims that the religion of I.srael can find its truest ex- pression only in a spiritual fellowsliip of faith, independent of a national framework. In Israel there is an imperishable reiiinaiit, a stock from which new life will spring fcntli after desolation has swept over Jerusalem (Is s"'" .'{T-''- '-). By the time of Jeremiah the disaster of the nation had become so irretrievable that the prophet hardly dares to hope for more than the salvage of indi- viduals from the wreck ; but these rescued ones will form the true Israel under a new covenant (Jer 23^-8 3PiT). The Messianic blessedness which those ]irophets foresaw ci insisted of an intimate fellowship which, in the <'oming days, the redeemed company of Israel would enioy with Jehovah (Ii 498-13, Jer Spif-). It wa Israelites because it was with Israel's God (Is 52''- fellowship finds nowhere
than in the Psalter. That storehouse of religious devotion is filled with prayers of communion with Jehovah, the supremely moral Person, righteous, faithful, holy, yet full of loving-kindness, who
to be a fellowship of primarily a fellow.ship (iO). This thought of i-ivid expression
satisfies the needs of man by bringing him into fellowship with Himself (Pss 16. 34. 40. 63). Though iiKiiiy of the psalms seem to be the utter- ance of individual yearning for God's presence, others express the religious desires of corporate Israel, a fellowship of saints with a common thirst for the springs of its life.
A special term had been coined for Israel in her religious rather than her national function— MAa^, ■which was rendered in the LXX by iKKKriaia ('church'). It signihed the religious assembly of God's chosen people ; but as tliis could never be completely realized, even in the great temple gatherings, the conception remained largely ideal. A rich spiritual legacy was transmitted from the OT in the words Israel, ecdesia, Kingdom of God ; and though the Jewish heirs were unable to ap- preciate their inlieritance, these two truths of the prophets and psalmists could never have quite perished — that there is an eternal commonwealth of saints, and that this fellowship of Israel is based upon fellowship with Jehovah.
ii. The Synoptic Gospels. — Jesus not only claimed to fulfil prophecy ; by His words of grace He did much more than the most spiritually minded Israelite could have hoped. The spirit of the Lord which was upon Him awoke prophetic thoughts that had long lain in the hearts of those who were waiting for the consolation of Israel. He brought spring and quickened the seed sown in the past. He calls men to Himself and forms them into a new society, within which are to be enjoyed the blessings foretold by the prophets. In this company is found religious fellowship, based upon forgiveness of sins and eternal life through the knowledge of God revealed by Jesus as Father, of which the OT saints had but partial enjoyment or glad anticipation. He places Himself at the head of this society, claiming that He alone can impart the knowledge of (iod which will give rest to the souls of men (Mt 1 1"-^")- Thus His followers, constituted into the society of the Messiah, become a Divinely ordered fellowship not dependent on outward organization, but united by a common faith in Jesus as the Revealer of Ciod to them. They are the New Israel, the imperishable ecdesia
(Mt le'"-!").
This society is no closed circle. Associating Himself more or less intimately with groups of disciples, Jesus sends them fortii with the know- ledge they have gained concerning Him, to pro- claim to the people that the new epoch of Divine rule is about to be inaugurated, and that they should prepare for its advent. The condition of meiiibeisliip in tliis brotherhood is to follow Jesus, even tli<piii;li this may seem to the man of the world to III- nothing less than to lose one's life. Fellowshiji with Jesus costs much. Family ties may be severed, the hatred of the world may be vented upon His disciples, billows of persecution may sweep over them, but in this society is life indeed (Mk S'^-^^, Lk 14=5-35^ jg^^ug o^ers His followers a fellowship in this new brotherhood, which more than compensates for any worldly friendship that they may have to renounce (Mk 1026-31) Their true kindred, even like that of Je-sus Himself, will be found among those united by spiritual affinities in this new circle. New- virtues abound in this brotherhood. Love working in helpful ministries for otliers is of the essence of fellowship in Messiah's company. Rank is assigned, not as in worldly kingdoms, but by the degree of service rendered by each to all (Mk