The "right hand of fellowship" in Galatians 2:9 signifies unity and partnership in spreading the gospel. It emphasizes the importance of community, mutual support, and encouragement among believers, which remains essential for the church today.
The "right hand of fellowship" in Galatians 2:9 symbolizes agreement, partnership, and unity in ministry. Paul and Barnabas were recognized by James, Cephas, and John as they were entrusted with spreading the gospel to the Gentiles. The term "fellowship" (koinonia) refers to shared partnership or friendship, emphasizing the importance of community within the church. This gesture tangibly reveals a person’s recognition as being part of the body of believers. It’s an action that symbolizes the need for unity, mutual encouragement, and support among Christians. Fellowship remains essential today in the church and among believers as we seek to live as the family of God.
In practice, extending the right hand of fellowship is the equivalent of shaking someone's hand or grasping their forearm to signify an agreement, bond of trust, or to establish a new partnership. It is a welcoming gesture. The right hand of fellowship is a visual sign of a welcome into fellowship and community. For Paul and Barnabas, being given the right hand of fellowship signified their acceptance into the more established group of disciples who were already preaching the gospel. Some churches today speak of the "right hand of fellowship" in welcoming new members and might even have a formal ceremony where the new member is introduced and greeted by the others with a hand shake. Fellowship and community are vital for believers.
Fellowship is key in how we function together as the body of Christ and the family of God. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, in part, "that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me" (John 17:21). Fellowship is one of the ways we work toward and maintain unity. We even see this in Galatians 2:10; Paul and Barnabas were given instructions to remember the poor, which is something they'd already wanted to do. The leaders were in accord with one another and unified in moving forward.
Whether we give the "right hand of fellowship" literally or metaphorically, the concept remains important for churches today. Paul wrote to the Philippians, "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Philippians 2:1–2).