What is "koinonia"

1865, Greek, literally "communion, fellowship," from koinos "common, ordinary" (see coeno-).

n. communion by intimate participation, associated with the Christian church.

n. Christian fellowship or communion iwth God or with fellow Christians; said in particular of the early Christian community

Koinonia (coy NO nyah) is a transliterated form of the Greek word, κοινωνία, which means communion, joint participation; the share which one has in anything, participation, a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, etc. It identifies the idealized state of fellowship and unity that should exist within the Christian church, the Body of Christ.

Koinonia was a band birthed from the fusion in jazz music, which occurred in the 1970s and 1980s, giving to a new, more electrified and diverse genre called jazz-funk. Other notable pioneers in this genre were: The Crusaders, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Alphonse Mouzon, Chick Corea, Lee Ritenour, Azymuth, Eumir Deodato, Jeff Lorber, and Seawind.

Though less known in the United States, Koinonia established themselves as a huge sensation in Scandinavia and Western Europe, performing to sell-out crowds from 1982 to 1991 in Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland and France. Their Latin-infused rhythms and upbeat melodies gave them a distinct and cultured sound. Taken from a Greek word used in the Bible to mean “ intimate fellowship” Koinonia was notably one of the first Christian, though primarily instrumental, jazz bands.

Koinonia may refer to:

• Koinonia, a Greek word
• Koinonia (band), a Christian jazz band
• Koinonia Christian Fellowship, a church in Bloomingdale, Ontario
• Koinonia Partners, an intentional community in Sumter County, Georgia
• Koinonia Community, a humanitarian organization in Africa
• Airdrie Koinonia Christian School, in Airdrie, Alberta