Commune; Communicate; Communication
Words for Connection and Sharing
In the Bible, the related terms commune, communicate, and communication carry richer meaning than their modern English equivalents might suggest. To commune means to converse confidentially and sympathetically, to share deeply with another person. To communicate means to impart something to another so that it becomes common to both giver and receiver. These concepts run through both the Old and New Testaments, describing the essential relational fabric of life with God and life in community.
Communing with God
The most profound use of communing in Scripture is in the context of the relationship between God and his people. God spoke with Moses "face to face, as a man speaks to his friend" (Exodus 33:11). The Psalms frequently portray the act of communing with God in prayer and meditation: "Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still" (Psalm 4:4). This kind of intimate conversation with God is not merely the recitation of formal prayers but a deep, personal exchange. David regularly poured out his heart before the LORD, modeling the kind of honest, transparent communication that God invites from his people.
Communication Between People
Scripture also describes human-to-human communication in significant ways. When the disciples on the road to Emmaus were talking together about the events of Jesus' death, the text says they "communed" with one another (Luke 24:15). After Jesus healed the demon-possessed man, the Pharisees "communed" about what they might do to him (Luke 6:11). In Acts 24:26, the Roman governor Felix sent for Paul repeatedly and "communed" with him. In each case, the word implies more than casual conversation — it suggests purposeful, meaningful dialogue.
Sharing and Generosity
The New Testament extends the concept of communication into the realm of material sharing. Paul urged Timothy to instruct the wealthy to be "willing to communicate" (1 Timothy 6:18), using a Greek word rooted in the concept of fellowship and commonality. To communicate in this sense means to share one's resources so that what one person has becomes available to another. This usage connects communication directly to generosity and the building of community. The same principle appears in Hebrews 13:16: "Do not neglect to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
The Danger of Bad Communication
Paul also warned about the destructive power of communication. In 1 Corinthians 15:33, he quoted a well-known proverb: "Bad company corrupts good morals." The word translated "company" or "communications" in older versions refers to the companionships and conversations that shape character. This warning acknowledges that communication is not neutral — it forms us for good or for ill. The associations we keep and the words we exchange have the power to build up or tear down.
A Relational God
At its deepest level, the biblical emphasis on communion and communication reveals a God who is inherently relational. From the very beginning, God spoke creation into existence (Genesis 1:3) and walked with Adam in the garden in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). The entire narrative of Scripture is a story of God communicating with his people — through prophets, through his Word, and ultimately through his Son, who is called the Word made flesh (John 1:14).
Biblical Context
These concepts appear throughout Scripture. Communing describes intimate conversation in the Psalms (Psalm 4:4) and in narrative passages like Luke 6:11, 22:4, and Acts 24:26. Communication as sharing appears in 1 Timothy 6:18 and Hebrews 13:16. Paul's warning about bad companionship comes from 1 Corinthians 15:33. The ultimate model of divine communication is the incarnation of Christ (John 1:14).
Theological Significance
The biblical vocabulary of communion and communication reveals that God created humans for relationship — both with himself and with one another. True communication involves not just the exchange of words but the sharing of life, resources, and heart. These concepts are foundational to the doctrine of fellowship (koinonia) and reflect the character of a God who makes himself known through personal revelation.
Historical Background
In the ancient world, oral communication was the primary means of transmitting knowledge, culture, and religious instruction. The Hebrew concept of 'speaking with the heart' implied sincerity and depth, not merely verbal exchange. Greek culture distinguished between different types of discourse, and the New Testament uses specific Greek terms for conversation (homileo), sharing (koinoneo), and intimate dialogue (dialaleo), each carrying distinct nuances about the nature of the interaction.