In the New Testament the word has two meanings, one in common with

ordinary Greek usage, the other peculiar to the Scriptures and related to the

Levitical law.  For the sake of clearness, let us note the peculiar use

In Matthew 15:11,18 and 20, koinos is translated 'defile' and in Acts

10:14 Peter uses the same word when he speaks of eating anything 'common',

which, to him, also meant anything Levitically 'unclean'.  Consequently, when

Peter told Cornelius to his face that, apart from Divine revelation, he would

have regarded him, God-fearing Gentile though he was, as 'common', he used

the word as a synonym for 'Levitically unclean', yet the selfsame word is

used in Acts 2:44 and 4:32 to convey the sense of perfect communion and

In its forms koinoneo, koinonia and koinonos, the primitive meaning of

having anything in common, is preserved and intended.  So we find the word

koinoneo used when reference is made to 'distributing' to the necessity of

the saints; to the Gentiles having been 'partakers' of the good things of

Israel; and to 'communicating' in fellowship with those who were devoted to

the ministry (Rom. 12:13; 15:27; Gal. 6:6).

Koinonia is the word translated 'fellowship' in 1 Corinthians 1:9;

Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:9 and 1 John 1:3.  The same word is translated

'communion' in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and 1 Corinthians 10:16.  In its ten

occurrences, koinonos is translated 'partakers', 'partner', 'fellowship' and

'companions' and emphasizes the basic meaning of the term 'having anything in

Paul uses the word koinos when he speaks of 'the common faith' (Tit.

1:4), and Jude when he speaks of 'the common salvation' (3).

While, therefore, Paul and Jude may have been ministers in differing

dispensations, they testify to the fact that 'faith' and 'salvation' are

common to all dispensations.  Whether in the ministry of Peter or Paul, faith

is essential and is one.  Thus, in the record of the Acts, we find faith

closely associated with Peter's ministry, whether as a substantive (Acts

3:16; 15:9) or in the verbal form, to believe (Acts 4:4; 10:43; 15:11); and

this is equally true of the ministry of Paul as recorded in the Acts (13:8;

13:39; 14:27; 16:31).  It is also true of the Epistles of both Peter and

Paul.  Peter uses pistis, 'faith', just seven times, and we give the

references to these, as an incentive to fuller study.

'Through faith unto salvation' (1 Pet. 1:5).

'The trial of your faith' (1 Pet. 1:7).

'Receiving the end of your faith' (1 Pet. 1:9).

'That your faith and hope might be in God' (1 Pet. 1:21).

'Resist stedfast in the faith' (1 Pet. 5:9).

'To them that have obtained like precious faith with us'

(2 Pet. 1:1).

'Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue' (2 Pet. 1:5).

Paul's use of the word faith is too extensive to permit of a list of

occurrences being included in these pages.  The Epistle to the Romans

contains thirty -nine such references, that to the Hebrews thirty -two, and