1. Communion:
The Heart of the Early
Christian Communities
(Lesson 2)

2. Communion
 Latinword, communio that is
related to the Greek word
koinonia. Its basic meaning is
“union with” (Kress, 1985, 35).

3.  It is the heart of the early communities.
 It is the central notion for a common
understanding of the nature of the Church
and its visible unity.
 The Christian’s communion with Christ and
with one another is the mighty force and
power that binds them together.
 From the early Christians, the word
“communion” (koinonia) aptly describes
what the Church truly is.
 During the 2nd until the 5th centuries, the
keywords applied to Church were “service”
(diakonia) and “communion” (koinonia)
(Prusak, 2004,2006)

4.  It refers to the bond of unity resulting
from a shared life in God and with one
another.
 The communion among Christians
themselves flows from their mutual
communion with God.
 It is concretely expressed in
relationships within the community.
 Community is the expression of
communion.

5.  Swimme (1992) underscored the
importance of relationship by saying:
“ To be is to be related, for relationship
is the essence of existence”
 God desires that all humankind will be
gathered as one big community; this
desire of God gathering His people
serves as the foundation of the
Church’s understanding and reflection
on communion.

6. Trinity
 Is the source and origin of the Church, the
Church has inherited the communion nature of the
Trinity; the unity of the Trinitarian God.
 The communion of the Triune God within and
with us serves as the basis model of our
communion in the Church.
 The Trinity’s communion nature is mirrored be
the Church’s communion (specifically in the local
Church).
 The Triune God is the most profound source of
life, love, and unity among various and many
individual members, among various and many
local Churches and also among all people of the
world.

7.  The objective of the Church is also the
oneness in love with God with one
another.
 Just like in Trinity, there is also
sharing and communication in the
Church. For this reason, the Church is
the greatest sacrament of divine
communion and has the mission of
gathering God’s scattered children
together.
 The Triune God is the exemplary
image and icon and model of the
Church’s life, and its mission.