“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;”
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. Paul's purpose in visiting is not merely social but spiritual: to strengthen the Roman church through the distribution of charismatic gifts. The phrase spiritual gift (charisma pneumatikon) suggests both apostolic authority to impart spiritual power and his recognition of their need for encouragement and edification. His humility lies in framing this as a mutual exchange rather than a one-way transmission.
Church Fathers on Romans 1:11
“Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.” You see him painfully desiring to see them, and yet not enduring to see them contrary to what seemed good unto God, but having his longing mingled with the fear of God. For he loved them, and was eager to come to them. Yet he did not, because he loved them, desire to see them, contrary to what seemed good unto God. This is true love, not as we love who err…
Read all 2 entries in the readerNicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!