Romans 1:11
11 For [gar] I long [epipotheo] to see [eido] you [humas], that [hina] I may impart [metadidomi] unto you [humin] some [tis] spiritual [pneumatikos]
gift [charisma], to the end [eis] ye [humas] may be
established [sterizo]; KJV-Interlinear
11 For I long to see you in order
that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; NASB
The word for established, ‘sterizo,’ is the key to
this verse, as well as the objective of the Christian life, and is explained
further in the next verse. It means to
set fast, to turn into a certain direction, to strengthen, to fulfill, to
complete, to form.
The spiritual gift that Paul is referring to, is
not some miracle producing power.
The apostles in that first Christian generation, had
special powers, or gifts, given to them in order to confirm their credentials
as men from God. Once their credibility
was established, then those gifts faded away and they lost those
abilities. The Word, being taught was
and is, more important than powers, or magic, or gifts that would only serve to
distract people from the real purpose of Bible doctrine.
Paul is not here with us today and therefore could not
give any miracle to anyone, but his words are here with us, and in them is the
power of establishment, namely Bible doctrine.
To impart, ‘metadidomi,’ means to share, to give
over, to instruct, to teach.
And what Paul is doing is teaching. And by so doing, he is sharing and imparting
his own knowledge to those who are willing to listen and learn.
The Word of God was written for all
generations. Pauls generation was not
there to hand out powers, but to build a solid foundation of written doctrine
upon which we could all be established within our individual spiritual lives.
Those special gifts that the apostles had, faded
after a short while and no longer exist.
If someone says they have one of those special gifts, they are lying and
trying to do nothing but fake people out, with phony religious marketing games.
To the end, ‘eis,’ means just that. The objective, the design, the purpose.
Bible doctrine is taught so that it can be learned,
so that it can be inculcated into ones soul, so that the health and construction
of the soul can be completed.
If you do not learn Bible doctrine, your life will never
be completed. Completion requires the
spiritual side of ones existence, and the spiritual side comes only from the
learning and using of the scriptures.
This cannot be accomplished on ones own. This cannot be accomplished by pretense. This cannot be accomplished by trying to
invent another way.
If you genuinely desire to achieve the ultimate
completion of your own self, then dedicating yourself to a daily study of
instruction of the scriptures will accomplish just that.
Anything less, and you will be less. It’s just that simple.
