The Meaning of Romans 1:11 Explained

Romans 1:11

KJV: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

YLT: for I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that ye may be established;

Darby: For I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to establish you;

ASV: For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  I long  to see  you,  that  I may impart  unto you  some  spiritual  gift,  to the end  ye  may be established; 

What does Romans 1:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Romans 1:1-12 - The Apostle's Burning Desire
Upon the threshold of his greatest Epistle, Paul describes himself as a bond-servant. Such humility as his qualified him to be the medium of God's wondrous revelations. How great must be the Master who has the absolute devotion of such a man! Paul was called to be an Apostle; we are all called of Jesus Christ, and called to be saints, Romans 1:1; Romans 1:6-7. Note that emphatic reference to our Lord's dual nature, Romans 1:3-4.
Long before Paul saw the faces of these Christians in Rome, he had been led out in prayer for them. He had won the battle before entering the battle-field. How noble it was on the Apostle's part to say that his faith was strengthened by their faith, as theirs by his! Romans 1:12. There is a wonderful give-and-take in the service of God. Each of us helps or hinders. None is neutral.
It is quite evident that prayer counted for much with the Apostle. This journey of his was the subject of continual supplication. He knew that much was to be obtained through prayer, which would otherwise be missed. Remember that your journeys must also be in the will of God, Romans 1:10. [source]

Chapter Summary: Romans 1

1  Paul commends his calling to the Romans;
9  and his desire to come to them
16  What his gospel is
18  God is angry with sin
21  What were the sins of mankind

Greek Commentary for Romans 1:11

Impart [μεταδω]
Second aorist active subjunctive of μεταδιδωμι — metadidōmi to share with one. See Luke 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:8. [source]
To the end ye may be established [εις το στηριχτηναι υμας]
Final clause (common in Paul) with εις το — eis to and the first aorist passive infinitive of στηριζω — stērizō for which verb see Luke 22:32; 1 Thessalonians 3:3, 1 Thessalonians 3:13. [source]
Some spiritual gift [τι χάρισμα]
Note the modesty in some. Χάρισμα is a gift of grace ( χάρις ) a favor received without merit on the recipient's part. Paul uses it both in this ordinary sense (Romans 5:15, Romans 5:16; Romans 6:23), and in a special, technical sense, denoting extraordinary powers bestowed upon individuals by the Holy Spirit, such as gifts of healing, speaking with tongues, prophecy, etc. See Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 1:7; 1 Corinthians 12:4, 1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Peter 4:10. In 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6, it is used of the sum of the powers requisite for the discharge of the office of an evangelist. [source]
To the end ye may be established [εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς]
Not that I may establish you. The modest use of the passive leaves out of view Paul's personal part. For established, see on Luke 22:32; see on 1 Peter 5:10. The word shows that he had in view their christian character no less than their instruction in doctrine. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Romans 1:11

Romans 1:13 Have some fruit [τινὰ καρπὸν σχῶ]
For the phrase, compare Romans 6:22. A metaphorical statement of what is stated literally in Romans 1:11. Not equivalent to bear fruit, but to gather as a harvest. Compare John 4:36; Philemon 1:22; Colossians 1:6. Fruit is a favorite metaphor with Paul. He uses it in both a good and a bad sense. See Romans 7:4, Romans 7:5; Romans 6:22; Galatians 5:22. [source]
Romans 15:23 A longing [επιποτειαν]
A hapax legomenon, elsewhere επιποτησις — epipothēsis (2 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Corinthians 7:11), from επιποτεω — epipotheō as in Romans 1:11. These many years (απο ικανων ετων — apo hikanōn etōn). “From considerable years.” So B C, but Aleph A D have πολλων — pollōn “from many years.” [source]
Romans 15:29 In the fulness of the blessing of Christ [εν πληρωματι ευλογιας Χριστου]
On πληρωματι — plērōmati see Romans 11:12. Paul had already (Romans 1:11.) said that he had a χαρισμα πνευματικον — charisma pneumatikon (spiritual blessing) for Rome. He did bring that to them. [source]
1 Corinthians 7:7 Gift [χάρισμα]
See on Romans 1:11. As regards the matter of continence, fitting some for marriage and some for celibacy. [source]
1 Corinthians 12:4 Gifts [χαρισμάτων]
See on Romans 1:11. [source]
1 Corinthians 1:7 Gift [χαρίσματι]
See on Romans 1:11. Its prevailing sense in this epistle is that of special spiritual endowments, such as tongues, prophecy, etc. Here of spiritual blessings generally. [source]
1 Corinthians 12:4 Of gifts [χαρισματων]
Late word and chiefly in Paul (cf. Romans 12:6) in N.T. (except 1 Peter 4:19), but some examples in papyri. It means a favour (from χαριζομαι — charizomai) bestowed or received without any merit as in Romans 1:11. [source]
2 Corinthians 1:15 Second benefit [δευτέραν χάριν]
Benefit is, literally, grace. Not a mere pleasurable experience through Paul's visit, but a divine bestowal of grace. Compare Romans 1:11. Second refers to his original plan to visit Corinth twice, on his way to Macedonia and on his return. [source]
Philippians 1:10 So that ye may [εις το υμας]
Either purpose or result (εις το — eis to plus infinitive as in Romans 1:11, Romans 1:20; Romans 3:26, etc.). [source]
2 Thessalonians 2:17 Comfort and stablish [παρακαλεσαι και στηριχαι]
First aorist active optative of wish for the future of two common verbs παρακαλεω — parakaleō (see 1 Thessalonians 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:14) and στεριζω — sterizō (see 1 Thessalonians 3:2, 1 Thessalonians 3:13). God is the God of comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-7) and strength (Romans 1:11; Romans 16:25). [source]
1 Timothy 4:14 The gift that is in thee [τοῦ ἐν σοὶ χαρίσματος]
Comp. 2 Timothy 1:6. Χάρισμα gift is a distinctively Pauline word, being found only three times outside of Paul's Epistles, and olxx, oClass. See on Romans 1:11. That is in thee, comp. τῆς ἐν σοὶ πίστεως thefaith that is in thee, 2 Timothy 1:5. The meaning is the special inward endowment which qualified Timothy for exhortation and teaching, and which was directly imparted by the Holy Spirit. [source]
1 Timothy 4:14 The gift that is in thee [του εν σοι χαρισματος]
Late word of result from χαριζομαι — charizomai in papyri (Preisigke), a regular Pauline word in N.T. (1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:11; Romans 1:11; etc.). Here it is God‘s gift to Timothy as in 2 Timothy 1:6. By prophecy (δια προπητειας — dia prophēteias). Accompanied by prophecy (1 Timothy 1:18), not bestowed by prophecy. With the laying on of the hands of the presbytery In Acts 13:2., when Barnabas and Saul were formally set apart to the mission campaign (not then ordained as ministers, for they were already that), there was the call of the Spirit and the laying on of hands with prayer. Here again μετα — meta does not express instrument or means, but merely accompaniment. In 2 Timothy 1:6 Paul speaks only of his own laying on of hands, but the rest of the presbytery no doubt did so at the same time and the reference is to this incident. There is no way to tell when and where it was done, whether at Lystra when Timothy joined Paul‘s party or at Ephesus just before Paul left Timothy there (1 Timothy 1:3). Επιτεσις — Epithesis Πρεσβυτεριον — Presbuterion is a late word (ecclesiastical use also), first for the Jewish Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66; Acts 22:5), then (here only in N.T.) of Christian elders (common in Ignatius), though πρεσβυτερος — presbuteros (elder) for preachers (bishops) is common (Acts 11:30; Acts 15:2; Acts 20:17, etc.). [source]
2 Timothy 1:4 Greatly desiring [ἐπιποθῶν]
Better, longing. Pastorals only here. Quite frequent in Paul. See Romans 1:11; 2 Corinthians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 9:14; Philemon 1:8, etc. The compounded preposition ἐπὶ does not denote intensity, as A.V. greatly, but direction. Comp. 2 Timothy 4:9, 2 Timothy 4:21. [source]
Revelation 3:2 Strengthen [στήριξον]
See on 1 Peter 5:10, and compare Luke 22:32; Romans 1:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:3. [source]

What do the individual words in Romans 1:11 mean?

I long for to see you that some I may impart gift to you spiritual to the strengthening of you
ἐπιποθῶ γὰρ ἰδεῖν ὑμᾶς ἵνα τι μεταδῶ χάρισμα ὑμῖν πνευματικὸν εἰς τὸ στηριχθῆναι ὑμᾶς

ἐπιποθῶ  I  long 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐπιποθέω  
Sense: to long for, desire.
ἰδεῖν  to  see 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἵνα  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ἵνα  
Sense: that, in order that, so that.
τι  some 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
μεταδῶ  I  may  impart 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: μεταδίδωμι  
Sense: to impart.
χάρισμα  gift 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: χάρισμα  
Sense: a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
πνευματικὸν  spiritual 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: πνευματικός  
Sense: relating to the human spirit, or rational soul, as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ.
στηριχθῆναι  strengthening 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive
Root: στηρίζω  
Sense: to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix.
ὑμᾶς  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.