Question concerning Romans 1:11-12?

Question

Here are the verses:
"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith"

This is of course, among the opening statements in Paul's letter to the believers at Rome. This particular part of the greeting seems to get skipped over though.

My question:
Did Paul have the God-given ability to impart Spiritual gifts.....or was he simply referring to encouragement in this context?

We know that the indwelling Spirit who posesses us as believers is the One who imparts gifts as He chooses.

So what do you think about this?

Thanks,

Primo

Answer 1

The passage explains itself. The phrase "that is," indicates an explanatory clause to follow. The second half of the passage explains the first half.



What Paul is saying is that it is of a spiritual nature to be encouraged by someone else's faith.



Frankly, not everyone realizes that, and it is a bit if a "gift" to recognize and be encouraged by the faith of someone else. It is, though, desirable that everyone should have it, and apparently Paul thinks that everyone CAN have it (unlike true spiritual gifts, of which not everyone has each gift).



True Spiritual Gifts (teaching, preaching, "tongues", prophecy, etc) come from the Holy Spirit.

Answer 2

This verse should be paralleled with Acts 19:1-6...



And finding some disciples [in Ephesus, Paul] said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”

So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”

So they said, “Into John’s baptism.”

Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.”

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.



Paul did not have the power to grant spiritual gifts. However, he did educate the new believers that such was possible. And in hearing the word of faith--can receive with thanksgiving.



I think the key here is where he wrote "so that I may impart". He did not write or imply "and I will impart".



I did not receive any of the gifts of the Spirit for several years after my salvation because I didn't know there were any gifts TO receive. Once I knew that I could ask--I asked--and the gift came.



The same can be said regarding salvation and hearing the Word of the Gospel...



Romans 10:14

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Answer 3

Paul here did have a spiritual gift that could be used as he saw fit in the service of God. Jesus gave his apostles that gift and they could give it to others but those receiving that gift could not pass it on to anyone else. Hence, the gifts of the spirit ended when the last one receiving it from the apostles died. The way you talk about the Holy Spirit it seems you think it is a person. The bible does not teach that. The bible says that it is God's active force or the way He gets thing accomplished.

He used it to create, give us the bible, and it is being used today to get the Good News about God's Kingdom preached through out the world. It is a very important part of God's arrangement but it is not a person.

Answer 4

impart, from Romans 1:11 is the same as impart, from Luke 3:11

which means to give or supply.



so its possible that Paul was talking about being among the believers of Rome that he may give or supply them with certain needed spiritual gifts.. which would then establish and strengthen them.



those spiritual gifts are otherwise spoken of by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:1, 14:1,12



the full chapters give further explanation.

.

Answer 5

I believe as you that the indwelling Spirit is the only one that can literally give a gift to someone. However, Paul, because he was a believer and a leader, he could pray over a person and help them discern their gifts and to encourage them to use them, for the glory of God, and the building up of the church.

Answer 6

Romans is a hard book for me . But we do know it is God that distributes the gifts, so that settles it ,making the word impart the key word . I wandered over to 2 Kings 2:9-15 where Elisha said to Elijah , " please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me " . To which Elijah said " if you see me when I'm taken from you yes, if not no ". Leaving the end result to God ,who left the mantle . I'm no Teacher ,just a student of the Bible, but I am thinking that Elisha was called by God to be a prophet and so had God given gifts, and that He used Elijah to " impart" . Impart :

Metadidomi : To give,share,distribute and grant .Used to exhort,encourage, and urge .

Answer 7

Granting miraculous gifts and such had to be done in the presence of 2 apostles....governing body members from Jerusalem had to do it. Ordinary evangelizers, etc. could not so no, Paul couldn't. He was discussing encouragement.



Debbie

Answer 8

interior the recent testomony there is the coaching that Christians are to no longer deliver grievances in the previous the courts of fellows. between the excuses for this is that the courts of fellows are no longer in basic terms and for this reason no longer merciful. This international would not comprehend precise the thought of forgiveness that's plenty an element of mercy. a demonstration of this is that interior the united statesa.there are a greater proportion of human beings in penal complex than the different usa in the international. the united statesA, easily has plenty to earnings approximately what the Bible teaches approximately mercy.

Answer 9

I think it's Paul going to them and instructing them how to receive the Spiritual gifts....they didn't know yet and he's telling them what is to come. He quite often told the churches what he was going to do when he came to visit them.

Answer 10

In Philippians 2:25-27, we see that Epaphroditus, one of Paul’s most dependable fellow-servants was “sick, nigh unto death. But God had mercy on him!”



Paul didn’t seek to heal him, but it is stated that “God had mercy on him.” Paul, evidently, no longer had power to heal, even his closest companions. Read II Tim. 4:11.



Here we find Luke, the physician is with Paul.



Makes one wonder what is going on in Lakeland, FL, or at least me.



EDIT: I never doubt the power of God, but I do doubt the abilities of man.

Answer 11

Both.