κοινωνικός

willing to share

Definition

κοινωνικός describes a person who is willing to share, generous, and sociable. It carries the sense of being beneficent and ready to communicate, not just with words but with material goods and fellowship. In its single New Testament use in 1 Timothy 6:18, it is paired with the command to be 'rich in good works,' directly linking the quality to active, outward generosity. The word implies a disposition toward community and mutual support, going beyond mere friendliness to include a readiness to contribute to the common good.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 6:18. It is used in a pastoral context where Paul instructs Timothy on what to command those who are rich in the present age. The instruction is to 'do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous (κοινωνικούς) and ready to share.' Here, it is a key ethical quality for wealthy believers, directly connected to the stewardship of resources and active benevolence.

Etymology

Derived from the noun κοινωνία (koinōnia, G2842), meaning 'fellowship, sharing, participation, or contribution.' The adjective κοινωνικός thus describes someone characterized by the quality of koinonia—someone who is fellowship-oriented and sharing. It is related to the common adjective κοινός (koinos, G2839), meaning 'common,' highlighting the word's inherent connection to community and mutual participation.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates the practical outworking of Christian fellowship (koinonia). It moves doctrine into ethics, showing that true fellowship involves tangible generosity and a commitment to the well-being of the community, especially toward those in need (as seen in 1 Timothy 6:18-19). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical generosity is not an occasional act but a defining character trait rooted in our shared life in Christ.

In the Greco-Roman world, generosity and patronage were important social virtues, but they were often exercised for public honor and reciprocal benefit. The New Testament use of κοινωνικός, especially directed toward the 'rich,' redefines this virtue. It is stripped of self-promotion and rooted instead in love and the imitation of God's generosity, creating a distinctively Christian ethic of sharing within the believing community.

μεταδίδωμι (metadidōmi, G3330) — emphasizes the act of imparting or giving a share; φιλόξενος (philoxenos, G5382) — specifically denotes love for strangers, hospitality; ἀγαθός (agathos, G18) — a broader term for 'good,' which can include generous actions.

Word Details

Scripture References