For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul uses "some spiritual gift" not to suggest a singular miraculous power, but a humble offering of whatever grace God has given him. He sees all his teaching and encouragement as a channel for the Holy Spirit's work, not just his own ability, aiming to strengthen their inner Christian character and life.
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul expresses his deep longing to visit the Roman believers, not to receive from them, but to give. He desires to impart some spiritual gift, not necessarily a miraculous one, but rather spiritual benefit and strengthening from his ministry and presence, to help establish them more firmly in their faith.
Paul longs to visit the Roman believers, not just to witness their faith, but to give them something. What exactly is this 'spiritual gift' he's eager to share?
Paul's desire to "impart some spiritual gift" wasn't solely about supernatural abilities. While apostles certainly had the power to confer miraculous gifts, Paul's primary focus here is on the strengthening and confirmation of the believers' faith.
The Core Purpose:
Paul's intense desire to see the Roman church isn't just professional duty; it's deeply personal. What does this reveal about the heart of apostolic ministry?
Paul's longing for the Roman believers is a powerful testament to the relational nature of ministry. His deep affection for them fuels his desire to be present and minister directly.
Ask a follow-up
Affection as Foundation:
Understand the original words
charisma · Greek Noun
A grace-gift (charism) bestowed by the Holy Spirit upon believers for the edification and building up of the church body.
stērizō · Greek Verb
To make firm, establish, or confirm someone in their resolve, faith, or spiritual maturity.
Paul's longing to visit Rome stemmed from a genuine desire to strengthen the church there with spiritual gifts, likely a mix of apostolic teaching and perhaps even miraculous abilities, as the church had developed without direct apostolic founding, unlike many others he established.
c. AD 49
Edict of Claudius Expels Jews from Rome
Emperor Claudius expelled Jews from Rome due to disturbances related to 'Chrestus'. This likely disrupted the early Christian community in Rome, which was largely composed of Jewish believers at the time.
c. AD 54
Nero Becomes Emperor
Nero rescinded the Edict of Claudius, allowing Jews, and thus Jewish Christians, to return to Rome.
c. AD 57— this verse
Paul Writes Romans from Corinth
Paul, imprisoned elsewhere and intending to travel to Rome, writes his letter from Corinth. He has not yet visited the Roman church and longs to see them.
c. AD 62-64
Paul's Imprisonment and Possible Release
Paul was imprisoned in Rome for several years. His release around this time might have paved the way for the visit to Rome he expresses in this letter.
AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
The Great Fire of Rome led to Nero blaming and persecuting Christians. This event is later than Paul's writing of Romans but would have profoundly affected the church.
This passage directly references the 'spiritual gifts' that Paul speaks of in Romans 1:11, showing their importance in the early church for building up believers.
Ephesians 4:12-13This passage echoes the purpose of spiritual gifts mentioned in Romans 1:11, stating they are 'for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.'
1 Thessalonians 3:2This verse shows Paul's desire to establish believers, similar to his longing in Romans 1:11, indicating that strengthening the faith of believers was a consistent concern for him.
Acts 14:22This verse describes the apostles strengthening the souls of disciples and urging them to continue in the faith, mirroring the 'establish' aspect of the spiritual gift Paul wishes to impart in Romans 1:11.
ellicottRomans 1:11: "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;"
(11) That I may impart unto you some spiritual gift. —Such gifts as would naturally flow to one Christian (or to many collectively) from the personal presence and warm sympathy of another; in St. Paul’s case, heightened in proportion to the wealth and elevation of his own spiritual consciousness and life. His head and his heart alike are full to overflowing, and he longs to di…
barnesRomans 1:11: "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;"
For I long to see you - I earnestly desire to see you; compare Romans 15:23 , Romans 15:32 . That I may impart - That I may "give," or communicate to you. Some spiritual gift - Some have understood this as referring to "miraculous gifts," which it was supposed the apostles had the power of conferring on others. But this interpretation is forced and unnatural. There is no insta…
Paul uses "some spiritual gift" not to suggest a singular miraculous power, but a humble offering of whatever grace God has given him. He sees all his teaching and encouragement as a channel for the Holy Spirit's work, not just his own ability, aiming to strengthen their inner Christian character and life.
Paul expresses his deep longing to visit the Roman believers, not to receive from them, but to give. He desires to impart some spiritual gift, not necessarily a miraculous one, but rather spiritual benefit and strengthening from his ministry and presence, to help establish them more firmly in their faith.
Paul expresses his deep longing to visit the Roman believers, not to receive from them, but to give. He desires to impart some spiritual gift, not necessarily a miraculous one, but rather spiritual benefit and strengthening from his ministry and presence, to help establish them more firmly in their faith.
"For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—" — Paul uses "some spiritual gift" not to suggest a singular miraculous power, but a humble offering of whatever grace God has given him. He sees all his teaching and encouragement as a channel for the…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026