Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the term "companion" refers to a person who is closely associated with another, often in friendship, partnership, or shared purpose. Companionship is a significant theme throughout the Scriptures, highlighting the importance of relationships in the life of believers.
Old TestamentThe concept of companionship is evident from the very beginning of the Bible. In
Genesis 2:18, God declares, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." This statement underscores the divine intention for human beings to live in companionship. Eve is created as a companion for Adam, establishing the foundational relationship of marriage.
The Book of Proverbs frequently addresses the nature of companionship, emphasizing the influence of friends and associates.
Proverbs 13:20 states, "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." This verse highlights the impact that companions can have on one's character and life choices, urging believers to seek wise and godly friendships.
New TestamentIn the New Testament, companionship is further explored through the relationships among Jesus and His disciples. Jesus Himself chose twelve disciples to be His companions, sharing in His ministry and mission.
Mark 3:14 notes, "He appointed twelve that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach." This companionship was not only for fellowship but also for the purpose of spreading the Gospel.
The Apostle Paul also speaks to the importance of companionship in the Christian life. In
1 Corinthians 15:33, he warns, "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good character.'" Paul emphasizes the necessity of surrounding oneself with fellow believers who encourage spiritual growth and moral integrity.
Spiritual CompanionshipBeyond human relationships, the Bible also speaks of companionship with God.
Psalm 25:14 declares, "The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them." This verse illustrates the intimate relationship that believers can have with God, characterized by trust and mutual understanding.
The Holy Spirit is described as a companion and helper for believers. In
John 14:16, Jesus promises, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever." The Holy Spirit provides guidance, comfort, and companionship to Christians, ensuring they are never alone in their spiritual journey.
Companionship in the ChurchThe early church exemplified the importance of companionship among believers.
Acts 2:42 describes the early Christians as devoted to "the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." This communal life fostered spiritual growth and mutual support, serving as a model for Christian fellowship today.
Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages believers to "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 necessity of regular fellowship and companionship within the body of Christ.
ConclusionThe biblical portrayal of companionship emphasizes its vital role in personal and spiritual development. Whether through marriage, friendship, or fellowship within the church, companionship is a gift from God designed to enrich the lives of believers and advance His kingdom.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) One who accompanies or is in company with another for a longer or shorter period, either from choice or casually; one who is much in the company of, or is associated with, another or others; an associate; a comrade; a consort; a partner.
2. (n.) A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a companion of the Bath.
3. (n.) A fellow; -- in contempt.
4. (n.) A skylight on an upper deck with frames and sashes of various shapes, to admit light to a cabin or lower deck.
5. (n.) A wooden hood or penthouse covering the companion way; a companion hatch.
6. (v. t.) To be a companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
7. (v. t.) To qualify as a companion; to make equal.
Greek
2083. hetairos -- acompanion... a
companion. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: hetairos Phonetic
Spelling: (het-ah'-ee-ros) Short Definition: a
companion, comrade Definition: a
...921. Barnabas -- Barnabas, an Israelitecompanion of Paul
... Barnabas, an Israelitecompanion of Paul. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Barnabas Phonetic Spelling: (bar-nab'-as) Short Definition: Barnabas...
1214. Demas -- Demas, acompanion of Paul
... Demas, acompanion of Paul. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: Demas
Phonetic Spelling: (day-mas') Short Definition: Demas Definition: Demas, a...
4791. sugkoinonos -- partaking jointly of
... Cognate: 4791 -- a closecompanion (joint-sharer). See 4790 ().... partaker,companion.
From sun and koinonos; a co-participant --companion, partake(-r, -r with)....
2844. koinonos -- a sharer
... Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: koinonos Phonetic Spelling: (koy-no-nos')
Short Definition: a sharer, partner Definition: a sharer, partner,companion...
4838. sumparalambano -- to take along with
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sumparalambano Phonetic Spelling:
(soom-par-al-am-ban'-o) Short Definition: I take along as acompanion Definition:...
4898. sunekdemos -- a fellow traveler
...companion in travel. From sun and the base of ekdemeo; a co-absentee from home,
ie Fellow-traveller --companion in travel, travel with. see GREEK sun....
5161. Trophimos -- Trophimus, a Christian
... in Asia. 5161 -- Trophimus, the ministry-companion of Paul, mentioned three
times in the NT (Ac 20:4, 21:29; 2 Tim 4:20). Word Origin...
4013. periago -- to lead around, to go about
... lead round, go round about. From peri and ago; to take around (as acompanion);
reflexively, to walk around -- compass, go (round) about, lead about....
4904. sunergos -- a fellow worker
... From a presumed compound of sun and the base of ergon; a co-laborer, ie Coadjutor --
companion in labour, (fellow-)helper(-labourer, -worker), labourer...
Strong's Hebrew
4828. merea -- friend,companion... 4827, 4828. merea. 4829 . friend,
companion. Transliteration: merea Phonetic
Spelling: (may-ray'-ah) Short Definition:
companion.
...2270. chaber -- united, associate,companion
... united, associate,companion. Transliteration: chaber Phonetic Spelling: (khaw-bare')
Short Definition: companions....companion, fellow, knit together....
7453. rea -- friend,companion, fellow
rea or rea. 7452, 7453. rea or rea. 7454 . friend,companion, fellow.
Transliteration: rea or rea Phonetic Spelling: (ray'-ah) Short Definition: neighbor....
7464. reah --companion, attendant
... 7463b, 7464. reah. 7465 .companion, attendant. Transliteration: reah Phonetic
Spelling: (ray'-aw) Short Definition: companions....companion, fellow....
4782. Mordekay -- acompanion of Zerubbabel, also a cousin of...
... Mordekay. 4783 . acompanion of Zerubbabel, also a cousin of Esther. Transliteration:
Mordekay Phonetic Spelling: (mor-dek-ah'-ee) Short Definition: Mordecai....
7480. Reelayah --companion of Zerubbabel
... 7479, 7480. Reelayah. 7481 .companion of Zerubbabel. Transliteration: Reelayah
Phonetic Spelling: (reh-ay-law-yaw') Short Definition: Reelaiah....
7474. rayah -- acompanion
... 7473, 7474. rayah. 7475 . acompanion. Transliteration: rayah Phonetic
Spelling: (rah-yaw') Short Definition: darling. Word Origin...
4333. Mishael -- "Who is what God is?" acompanion of Daniel.
... "Who is what God is?" acompanion of Daniel.... Word Origin (Aramaic) corresponding
to Mishael Definition "Who is what God is?" acompanion of Daniel. Mishael...
2278. chabereth -- consort
... consort. Transliteration: chabereth Phonetic Spelling: (khab-eh'-reth) Short Definition:
companion.... of chaber Definition consort NASB Word Usagecompanion (1)....
3674. kenath -- associate, colleague
...companion. From kanah; a colleague (as having the same title) --companion. see
HEBREW kanah. 3673, 3674. kenath. 3675 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
Companion to the Bible
Companion to the Bible. <.Companion to the Bible EP Barrows.
Produced by John Hagerson, Juliet Sutherland, David King...
October the Eleventh the OldCompanion on the New Road
... OCTOBER The Eleventh THE OLDCOMPANION ON THE NEW ROAD. "Get thee out ...
and I will show thee." "So Abram departed ... and the Lord...
March the Fourth the GreatCompanion
... MARCH The Fourth THE GREATCOMPANION. JOHN xiv.15-31. And so even the road
is to have the home-feeling in it. "I will not leave you...
Cii. Bartim??us and hisCompanion Healed.
... From the Third Passover Until Our Lord's Arrival at Bethany. (Time: One Year Less
One Week.) CII. Bartim??us and HisCompanion Healed. (at Jericho.)...
Of a Holy Friar who Saw a Wonderful vision of aCompanion who was...
... PART ONE. HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER LVI OF
A HOLY FRIAR WHO SAW A WONDERFUL VISION OF ACOMPANION WHO WAS DEAD....
Companion to the Bible
Companion to the Bible. <.... Title Page.COMPANION TO. THE BIBLE. BY
REV. EP BARROWS, DD,. PROFESSOR OF BIBLICAL LITERATURE....
Of Brother Bernard of Quintavalle, the FirstCompanion of St...
... PART ONE. HERE BEGIN THE LITTLE FLOWERS OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI CHAPTER II OF
BROTHER BERNARD OF QUINTAVALLE, THE FIRSTCOMPANION OF ST FRANCIS....
Of the Sorrow which Brother Juniper Felt at the Loss of his...
... PART TWO. HERE BEGINNETH THE LIFE OF BROTHER JUNIPER CHAPTER XIII OF THE SORROW
WHICH BROTHER JUNIPER FELT AT THE LOSS OF HISCOMPANION BROTHER AMAZIALBENE....
That the Ruler Should Be, through Humility, aCompanion of Good...
... That the ruler should be, through humility, acompanion of good livers, but, through
the zeal of righteousness, rigid against the vices of evildoers....
The Natural Good of Marriage. All Society Naturally Repudiates a...
... Book I. Chapter 5 [IV.]"The Natural Good of Marriage. All Society Naturally
Repudiates a FraudulentCompanion. What is True Conjugal Purity?...
Thesaurus
Companion (44 Occurrences)... 2. (n.) A knight of the lowest rank in certain orders; as, a
companion of the
Bath.
... 6. (vt) To be a
companion to; to attend on; to accompany.
...Companion's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version ConcordanceCompanion's (1 Occurrence). Judges 14:20 and Samson's
wife becometh hiscompanion's, who 'is' his friend. (YLT)....
Fellow (166 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Acompanion; a comrade; an associate;
a partner; a sharer. 2. (n.) A man without good breeding...
Company (287 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) The state of being acompanion or companions; the act of accompanying;
fellowship; companionship; society; friendly intercourse....
Familiar (35 Occurrences)
... 2. (a.) Closely acquainted or intimate, as a friend orcompanion; well versed
in, as any subject of study; as, familiar with the Scriptures....
Companions (58 Occurrences)
... forth. (See RSV). Psalms 88:18 Friend andcompanion hast Thou put far from
me, and mine acquaintance into darkness. (See RSV NIV)....
Evangelist (2 Occurrences)
... is pure conjecture, as is the story that Luke was one of the Greeks who came to
Philip for an introduction to Jesus (John 12:20 f), or thecompanion of Cleopas...
Guide (89 Occurrences)
... a friend," the leader of a family or tribe: Psalm 55:13, "a man mine equal, my guide,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "mycompanion"; Proverbs 2:17...
Friendship (13 Occurrences)
... frend, frend'-ship: In the Old Testament two words, variously translated "friend"
or "companion": re`eh, indicating a mere associate, passing friend, neighbor...
Tharra
... thar'-a (Tharra): One of the two eunuchs, "keepers of the court," who with his
companion Gabatha (Bigthan) formed a conspiracy against King Artaxerxes which...
Resources
What is a yokefellow in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Cleopas in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgHow was the woman a helper suitable for the man (Genesis 2:18)? | GotQuestions.orgCompanion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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