The term "fellow" in the Bible is often used to describe a companion, associate, or partner in various contexts. It is a word that conveys a sense of shared purpose or commonality among individuals. In the Scriptures, the concept of fellowship is deeply rooted in the communal and relational aspects of human life, reflecting the nature of God's relationship with humanity and the relationships among believers.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "fellow" is "רֵעַ" (rea), which means friend, companion, or associate. This term is used in various contexts to describe relationships between individuals. For example, in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 , it is written, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls, his companion can lift him up. But pity the one who falls without another to help him up!" This passage highlights the practical benefits of companionship and mutual support.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, the Greek word "μέτοχος" (metochos) is sometimes translated as "fellow" and refers to a partner or sharer. The concept of fellowship is central to the life of the early church. Acts 2:42 states, "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Here, fellowship is depicted as an essential aspect of the Christian community, involving shared beliefs, communal meals, and collective worship.

The Apostle Paul frequently uses the term "fellow" to describe his co-workers in the ministry. In Philippians 2:25 , he refers to Epaphroditus as "my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my needs." This highlights the collaborative nature of Paul's ministry and the importance of partnership in spreading the Gospel.

Theological Significance

Theologically, the concept of being a "fellow" is significant in understanding the nature of the Church as the body of Christ. Believers are called to be in fellowship with one another, reflecting the unity and diversity of the body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 illustrates this by stating, "For just as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many."

Practical Implications

In practical terms, being a "fellow" involves mutual support, encouragement, and accountability among believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts Christians, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This passage underscores the importance of regular fellowship and the role it plays in spiritual growth and perseverance.

In summary, the term "fellow" in the Bible encompasses a rich tapestry of relationships characterized by shared purpose, mutual support, and communal worship. It reflects the biblical ideal of living in harmony and unity with others, as modeled by the early church and taught by the apostles.

The Hardness of the Way.
... his whole having; while there are many, and those by no means only of the rich,
who cannot believe the Lord really meant to take the poor fellow's money from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macdonald/unspoken sermons/the hardness of the way.htm

Putting Clouds Over the Sun
... feeling. The older boy put a dark cloud over the little fellow's sun that day,
and the shadow will be cast upon him through other days. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk fourteen putting clouds over.htm

The Shortest Way to God.
... who knows Him best. Then this forgiven man went out and found a fellow
servant who owed him"how much do you think? Have you ever ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/the shortest way to god.htm

How Love Produces Zeal.
... jealousy is not grieved at our neighbour's having some good provided that it is
not our good: for the jealous man does not grieve at his fellow's being beloved ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xii how love produces.htm

But we Need no Longer Show in this Narrow Way the Drawback of this ...
... which men divide into sections, and the more they add to the one the more they take
from the other, so that the one person's gain is his fellow's loss; whence ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/chapter iv but we need.htm

Of Marcellus, Bishop of Apamea, and the Idols' Temples Destroyed ...
... he, "two workmen's pay; and I promise you I will easily destroy the temple." The
holy bishop did as he was asked, and the following was the fellow's contrivance ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/chapter xxi of marcellus bishop of.htm

To the Learned Petrus.
... excellence. Now we beseech you the more earnestly to counteract this fine fellow's
lies and confirm the comfort given to the unhappy poor. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/xlvi to the learned petrus.htm

Letter of Cyril to John, Bishop of Antioch, against Theodoret. ...
... Knowing that the fellow's malice has been daily growing and doing harm to the body
of the Church, the Lord has lopped him off like a plague and "taken away the ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/clxxix letter of cyril to.htm

A vision of the Last Day
... out, "Look here! look now! here he is! there she is!""and every one
mockingly laid bare his fellow's shame. "And what was the ...
/.../wells/bible stories and religious classics/a vision of the last.htm

The Pilgrim's Longings
... once indulged? No. Each man's calling may seem to him to be more full of
temptation than his fellow's. It is not so. Our temptations ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/the pilgrims longings.htm

Fellow's (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Fellow's (3 Occurrences). John 9:28 They insulted him
and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. (See NIV). ...
/f/fellow's.htm - 7k

Helkath-hazzurim (1 Occurrence)
... So fiercely did they encounter each other that "they caught every man his fellow
by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down ...
/h/helkath-hazzurim.htm - 9k

Helkathhazzurim (1 Occurrence)
... So fiercely did they encounter each other that "they caught every man his fellow
by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down ...
/h/helkathhazzurim.htm - 9k

Fellows (30 Occurrences)

/f/fellows.htm - 16k

Opponent's (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Samuel 2:16 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was ...
/o/opponent's.htm - 6k

Opponent (13 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:16 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was ...
/o/opponent.htm - 10k

Fellowservant (6 Occurrences)

/f/fellowservant.htm - 8k

Dagger (6 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 2:16 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was ...
/d/dagger.htm - 8k

Hel'kath-hazzu'rim (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Samuel 2:16 And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together; wherefore that place was ...
/h/hel'kath-hazzu'rim.htm - 6k

Hazzurim (1 Occurrence)
... 2 Samuel 2:16 They caught everyone his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword
in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: therefore that place was ...
/h/hazzurim.htm - 6k

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