Answer
In 2 Corinthians, the apostle Paul emphasizes the importance of restoring relationships with other believers and preserving unity in the church. Therefore, it is fitting that he concludes his letter with this final benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:11–14, NKJV).
Second Corinthians 13:14 is referred to as “the benediction of the Trinity” by Bible scholar Warren Wiersbe. Commenting on the passage, he writes, “The ‘grace of our Lord Jesus Christ’ takes us back to Bethlehem, where He became poor for us (2 Cor. 8:9); ‘the love of God’ takes us to Calvary, where God the Father gave His Son; and ‘the communion of the Holy Spirit’ takes us to Pentecost, where the Spirit baptized all believers into the body of Christ” (Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament, Victor Books, 1992, p. 512). These three elements—grace, love, and communion—are vital to the spiritual well-being of the church.
Koinōnia is the original Greek word translated as “communion” in 2 Corinthians 13:14 (NKJV, KJV). It’s a rich and multifaceted word, meaning “participation fellowship — the act of sharing in the activities or privileges of an intimate association or group; especially used of marriage and churches” (Lexham Research Lexicon of the Greek New Testament). The communion of the Spirit goes beyond mere participation to the deep, intimate, interconnected sense of community that is a quality of our relationship with the Holy Spirit. Other Bible translations of 2 Corinthians 13:14 use the phrase fellowship of the Holy Spirit (ESV, NIV, NLT).
Paul makes a similar appeal to the Philippians, reminding them that our union with Christ calls us to live together humbly as one body joined in the communion of the Holy Spirit: “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose” (Philippians 2:1–2, NLT).
At salvation, every Christian receives the Holy Spirit. The Spirit enters us and enables us to commune with the Father. The Holy Spirit also empowers us in our daily walk of faith. God comes to live in us and respond to others through us by the Spirit’s indwelling power. Likewise, the communion of the Holy Spirit permits mutual participation and acceptance among the members of Christ’s body. We find common ground, shared objectives, and reciprocal concerns with people who are different but united in one family of God (Ephesians 2:18–19).
True Christian fellowship is the Holy Spirit’s gift to the church (John 14:16–17). The church is the body of Christ on earth. It does not consist of a building or a denomination but is a union of redeemed individuals who participate in a united life of fellowship (1 Corinthians 10:16–17; 12:27; Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:24). The communion of the Holy Spirit makes us—the collective body of believers—all part of the same body. This body is made up of many parts, each belonging to the other (Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:13, 25). We are all one in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:28; 1 Corinthians 6:15).
As members of the same body, we are not just recipients of the communion of the Holy Spirit, but God also calls us to live out its implications. We are to live in love, harmony, humility, and service to one another (John 13:35; 1 Peter 3:8; 4:8; Romans 12:16; Ephesians 2:21–22; 4:2–3). This fellowship of the Holy Spirit is a transformative force, producing sanctification (Romans 15:16; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Corinthians 3:18; 1 Peter 1:2) and drawing us into an ever-deepening love relationship with God and our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 4:12).
