Romans 1 · Verse 11

Romans 1:11

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
Romans 1:11, King James Version

Romans 1:11 in other translations

BSBFor I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you,
WEBFor I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end that you may be established;
ASVFor I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
YLTfor I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, that ye may be established;
DARBYFor I greatly desire to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to establish you;
BBEFor I have a strong desire to see you, and to give you some grace of the spirit, so that you may be made strong;
WebsterFor I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

What does Romans 1:11 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Romans 1:11-12
11-12. For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift--not any supernatural gift, as the next clause shows, and compare 1Co 1:7. to the end that ye may be established.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 11. For I long to see you. I earnestly desire to see you. Comp Rom 15:23,32.

That I may impart. That I may give, or communicate to you.

Some spiritual gifts. 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 instance where the expression denotes the power of working miracles. Besides, the apostle in the next verse explains his meaning-- "That I may be comforted together by the mutual faith," etc. From this it appears that he desired to be among them to exercise the office of the ministry, to establish them in the gospel, and to confirm their hopes. He expected that the preaching of the gospel would be the means of confirming them in the faith; and he desired to be the means of doing it. It was a wish of benevolence, and accords with what he says respecting his intended visit in Rom 15:29, "And I am sure that when I come, I shall come ill the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ." To make known to them more fully the blessings of the gospel, and thus to impart spiritual gifts, was the design he had in view.

To the end, etc. With the design, or purpose.

Ye may be established. That is, that they might be confirmed in the truths of the gospel. This was one design of the ministry, that Christians may be established, or strengthened, Eph 4:13. It is not to have dominion over their faith, but to be "helpers of their joy," 2Cor 1:24. Paul did not doubt that this part of his office might be fulfilled among the Romans, and he was desirous there also of making full proof of his ministry. His wish was to preach not simply where he must, but where he might. This is the nature of this work.

(p) "For I long" Rom 15:23,32 (q) "that I may impart" Rom 15:29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 11 Some spiritual gift - This probably means some of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit, which, being given to them, might tend greatly to establish their faith in the Gospel of Christ; and it is very likely that such gifts were only conferred by means of apostles; and as the apostle had not yet been at Rome, consequently the Roman Christians had not yet received any of these miraculous gifts, and thus they differed widely from all the other Churches which had been raised by the apostle's ministry.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Romans 1:8-15

We must show love for our friends, not only by praying for them, but by praising God for them. As in our purposes, so in our desires, we must remember to say, If the Lord will, Jas 4:15. Our journeys are made prosperous or otherwise, according to the will of God. We should readily impart to others what God has trusted to us, rejoicing to make others joyful, especially taking pleasure in communing with those who…

Read the full comment on Romans 1:8-15 →

Romans 1:11 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἐπιποθῶepipothōI longG1971
γὰρgarforG1063
ἰδεῖνideinto seeG1492
ὑμᾶς,humasyou,G4771
ἵναinathatG2443
τιtisomeG5100
μεταδῶmetadōI may impartG3330
χάρισμαcharismagiftG5486
ὑμῖνhuminto youG4771
πνευματικὸνpneumatikonspiritualG4152
εἰςeistoG1519
τὸtotheG3588
στηριχθῆναιstērichthēnaistrengtheningG4741
ὑμᾶς,humasof you,G4771

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Romans 1:11

  • 2 Peter 1:12

    Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

  • 2 Thessalonians 3:3

    But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

  • Romans 16:25

    Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

  • Romans 15:29

    And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

  • 2 Peter 3:17-18

    Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:17

    Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

  • Acts 8:15-19

    Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, …

  • 1 Peter 5:10

    But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

  • Acts 16:5

    And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

  • 1 Peter 5:12

    By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

  • Acts 19:6

    And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:13

    To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I long.
15:23,32; Ge 31:30; 2Sa 13:39; 23:15; 2Co 9:14; Php 1:8; 2:26; 4:1
that.
15:29; Ac 8:15-19; 19:6; 1Co 12:1-11; 2Co 11:4; Ga 3:2-5; Eph 4:8-12
to the.
16:25; 2Ch 20:20; Ac 16:5; 2Co 1:21; 1Th 3:2,13; 2Th 2:17; 3:3
Heb 13:9; 1Pe 5:10,12; 2Pe 1:12; 3:17,18

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Romans 1:10

    Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

  • Romans 1:11

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

  • Romans 1:12

    That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Read all of Romans 1

Romans 1:11 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque os deseo ver, para repartir con vosotros algún don espiritual, para confirmaros;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car je désire ardemment de vous voir, afin de vous faire part de quelque don de grâce spirituel, pour que vous soyez affermis,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn mich verlangt sehr, euch zu sehen, auf daß ich euch etwas geistliche Gnadengabe mitteilte, um euch zu befestigen,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Desidero enim videre vos, ut aliquid impertiar vobis gratiæ spiritualis ad confirmandos vos: