One Another: The Essence of Allelon in Christian Community

‍The Christian faith is best understood as a journey embarked on not in isolation but in companionship with fellow believers. This community of believers, often referred to as the body of Christ, is bound together by a spiritual bond that transcends physical relationship. The New Testament, written in the original Greek language, captures this bond with the term “allelon,” which translates to “one another” or “each other.” This article delves into the deeper understanding of “allelon” and its critical role in shaping Christian communities.

Allelon: A Greek Foundation

The term “allelon” appears approximately a hundred times in the New Testament. It emphasizes the notion of reciprocity, mutuality, and community that’s deemed vital in Christian faith. The usage of this term, in the form of specific instructions or commandments, forms the blueprint for thriving Christian relationships.

Often, “allelon” is translated to “one another” or “each other,” and it underscores the interdependence and communal essence of our faith. The New Testament urges us to care, serve, admonish, bear with, submit to, encourage, and pray for one another. All these exhortations are essentially various ways to articulate the commandment to “love one another.”

Loving one another benefits both the giver and the recipient, facilitating an experience of community. In such fellowship, we encounter God’s love more profoundly, as it is through our love for one another that God’s love is made complete in us.

The Importance of Community

In our contemporary culture, independence and autonomy are highly valued. However, understanding the Bible requires us to recognize that its original context is vastly different. The Bible, particularly the New Testament, was written to a collective culture where community was paramount.

In the Old Testament, the pronoun “you” is most frequently plural, implying a collective audience. The Apostle Paul’s instructions and Jesus’ teachings were directed towards a community of believers, not individuals. This communal emphasis is highlighted in several instances, such as the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples, “Give us this day our daily bread,” not “me” my daily bread.

The letters of Paul were read aloud to groups, questions were discussed, debated, and learned from one another. This communal approach contrasts with our modern individualistic interpretations, reminding us that Christianity is fundamentally a “one another” faith.

The Allelon Imperative

The “allelon” imperative in the New Testament is expressed in two ways, either positively or negatively. The negative expression includes behaviors such as passing judgment, envy, slander, and grumbling. On the other hand, the positive expression is encapsulated in the commandment to love one another, which is reiterated multiple times in the New Testament.

The practical application of this mutual love is a process in which the Lord himself actively participates. Positive “one anothering” begins with developing positive attitudes towards fellow believers, includes positive ways of talking to each other, and is expressed through positive actions.

The New Testament provides a plethora of guidelines for positive “one anothering,” including being patient with each other, considering others better than ourselves, serving one another, forgiving each other, and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ, among others.

The Power of Positive One Anothering

Positive “one anothering” is not just about having a positive attitude but also about positive actions. The New Testament mentions numerous actions that can bless and help our fellow Christians. For instance, mutual ministry, confessing sins to each other, and forgiving each other are all part of positive “one anothering.”

A significant aspect of “one anothering” is mutual ministry. The spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, such as serving, teaching, and giving, are given for the purpose of building up each other in our Christian lives.

The Challenge of One Anothering

While the concept of “one anothering” is simple, implementing it in our daily lives is often challenging. We are unperfected saints living in a fallen world, and there will be many instances when we fail to live up to the biblical standards of “one anothering.” However, God has built the remedy for our failures into the very pattern of “one anothering” itself – through confession of our sins against each other and forgiveness extended to one who so comes to us.

In conclusion, the term “allelon” or “one another” is not just a word in the New Testament; it is a divine commandment, a blueprint for Christian living. It captures the essence of the Christian faith, which is not about solitary believers but a community of believers bound together by love and mutual respect. By understanding and practicing the principles of “one anothering,” we can create a Christian community that truly reflects the love and grace of God.

 

 

 

Bruce Mitchell is a speaker, writer, and Bible teacher who loves to share God’s Word in everyday life. He has studied at Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary. His blog (Allelon.us) is all about the principles of Agapao Allelon (Loving One Another) and God’s Mercy, Grace, Love, and Forgiveness and how it applies to our daily lives as Christ-Followers. (1 Peter 4:8)