Koinonia was founded in 1980 by Abraham Laboriel and Bill Maxwell. The band had it's first public appearance at The Baked Potato, Los Angeles in 1980. The name Koinonia is from Greek, that means "partnership" or "fellowship" or "to communicate by the act of using as common." 

The "original" band consisted of Abraham Laboriel, Bill Maxwell, Harlan Rogers, Hadley Hockensmith, Dean Parks, John Phillips and Alex Auña. Justo Alamrio replaced John Phillips in 1981, and Dean Parks left because he did not want to travel. Lou Pardini joined the band in 1988. 

The band have released three studio albums and one live album. On their latest album  the group appeared in a new concept with vocal songs, and not as an instrumental group as they started. There are also realesed two compilations of Koinonia "Compact Favorites" (1989), and "Pilgrims Progression" in 1991. In 2010 there was released a box-set, containing all their albums on cd, and two dvd videos.

Koinonia was disbanded in 1991.

Alex Acuña has been a member of Weather Report.

The members of Koinonia have after the disband, been playing together as backing musicans for other artists, see Andrae Crouch, in concert(s) where they some times have played the songs of Koinonia.