Jolly good fellowship

Dear friend

If you call someone a fellow it means you share common cause with them, which can include: a job; an interest; a journey; or a religious affiliation. A word with Old Norse and Old English origins, fellow can mean partner and comrade. Fellow is used in scripture too, particularly in terms of fellowship.

On the miraculous Day of Pentecost the Spirit was poured out in abundance to the convincing and converting of many to the Church. Their fellowship came by following the established protocols of the gospel, as recorded in the New Testament, Acts 2:41, 42.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

A short time later the Apostle Paul clarified whose fellowship believers are actually accepting, as found in 1 Corinthians 1:9.

9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Entering and enduring in faith-based fellowship can cause considerable collective conviviality in the convocation, as exemplified in the Book of Mormon, Helaman 6:3.

3 Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy.

Perhaps the fundamentals of fellowship are best summed up by Paul, who adjusted the word slightly to highlight the benefits of belonging; from Ephesians 2:19, 20.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

I hope we feel the felicity of fellow followers. I pray we gain the joy of belonging among the believers.

Samuel.