συναναμίγνυμι

I keep company with

Definition

The verb συναναμίγνυμι means to mix together with, associate with, or keep company with in a close, ongoing manner. In the New Testament, it specifically denotes the act of maintaining social fellowship or intimate association. In 1 Corinthians 5:9 and 5:11, Paul uses it to command believers not to associate with those who claim to be Christians but are living in unrepentant, flagrant sin. In 2 Thessalonians 3:14, the instruction is similar but directed toward those who are idle and disruptive, where believers are to take note of them and not associate with them, so that they may feel ashamed.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively by the Apostle Paul in his letters to address church discipline. All three occurrences (1 Corinthians 5:9, 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:14) are in the context of instructing the Christian community to withdraw close social fellowship from fellow believers who are persistently engaging in sinful, disorderly conduct. The pattern is one of corrective, loving separation intended to provoke repentance, not a permanent shunning of unbelievers.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition σύν (syn, G4862), meaning 'with' or 'together,' compounded with the verb ἀναμίγνυμι (anamignymi), which means 'to mix up, mingle.' The compound emphasizes the idea of mixing or associating oneself together with others. It is a relatively rare compound verb in Greek literature.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant for the doctrine of church discipline and the nature of Christian community. It underscores the church's responsibility for holiness and the practical application of separating from unrepentant sin within the body of believers (1 Corinthians 5:13). Understanding this Greek term clarifies that the command is about intimate fellowship within the church, not general interaction with the sinful world, enriching our reading of these corrective passages.

In the Greco-Roman world, social association and table fellowship were powerful markers of identity, acceptance, and approval. For Paul to instruct a community to withdraw this association was a serious social sanction. It leveraged cultural expectations of honor and shame to correct behavior, aiming to restore the offender through the pain of exclusion from the community's intimate life.

κοινωνέω (koinōneō, G2841) — emphasizes partnership and sharing, often in a positive sense. συναναστρέφω (synanastrephō, G4921) — focuses on associating or conversing with in daily life.

Word Details

Scripture References