This short study is an example of a lesson offered at Redemption Seminary. Each lesson is divided into short sensible steps. Typically, your first step is watching a short focused lecture (under ten minutes).
Step 1 - Watch the Lecture (approx. 4 min.)
Step 2 - Research Activity (approx. 10 min.)
Propositional Outline View in Logos
Logos has all sorts of visual filters to help us examine Bible translations. Let’s examine this verse with the propositional outlines filter. If you have Logos Bible Software, you are welcome to follow along in your own Bible with these actions.
Open a Bible version to Romans 1:11
Click on the visual filters button (the button with three dots stacked in a triangle).
Check the “Resources” box
Scroll down and check the “Propositional Outlines” box
Now we see Romans 1:11-12 outlined into five parts by their logical relationships.
We can see there are several purpose clauses in these verses. The trick is seeing when purpose clauses depend on each other or when they are in a parallel relationship (both expressing common purposes). In 11b we see a purpose (or reason) for Paul wanting to visit, namely, to give his readers some spiritual gift. But notice that the next purpose statement in 11c is the reason or purpose for the spiritual gift in 11b. The spiritual gift (or perhaps the giving of it) will strengthen them. The first purpose clause is the reason for his visit and the second purpose clause is the reason for the gift. By hovering on the tag “Correction” in Logos we learn that the next purpose clause in 12b is in a parallel relationship with 11c. It supplies a clearer explanation of what Paul means by “strengthen” in 11c. We can see that there are three components to this strengthening:
it is shared or mutual
it is an encouragement
each other’s faith is the source and demonstration of the strengthening.
Since the spiritual gift that Paul wanted to provide would produce these results, we can infer a test for discerning spiritual gifting. If the gift isn’t shared, encouraging, or manifested in each other’s faith, it isn’t the type spiritual gift Paul was talking about.
Step 3 - Application Activity (approx. 7 min.)
You can use this test to examine what you have determined to be your current gifting. Does your gifting satisfy the three elements of Rom 1:12b? Be careful with this. Sometimes we think we are blessing or encouraging someone when they are actually being long-suffering towards us. It takes time and attention to develop your sensitivity to what actually builds someone else up in their faith. Sometimes it isn’t doing anything but being there and listening.
Instead of merely using this technique to examine or confirm gifts that you already think you have, you can also use this approach to search out gifting. You can do this by first examining your life and asking what aspects of it express the three elements of Rom 1:12b. If there is an aspect of your life or behavior that is shared with others, encourages both you and them, and strengthens each other’s faith, think about how that behavior or aspect of life relates to the lists of gifts mentioned in the passages Dr. Irving mentioned at the end of his lecture.
Step 4 – Required Readings (approx. 7 min.)
Redemption Seminary courses include all their required resources and readings. Sometimes the readings support the major themes in a lecture and sometimes they challenge it. The New American Commentary (included in the custom Redemption library) asserts that the spiritual gift in Rom 1:11 is not the same type as those in 1 Cor 12. Whatever you decide on that point, it isn’t hard to believe that both types of gifts would share the elements Paul mentions in Rom 1:12b.
“1:11–13 Paul longed to see the believers in Rome. Commitment to a common Lord draws people together. To be servants of the same master is to be in harmony with one another. Paul’s special concern was that he would be able to share with them some spiritual favor that would provide encouragement and strength. The apostle was not at this point speaking of spiritual gifts such as those listed in 1 Corinthians 12. He was concerned that believers in Rome become increasingly established in their faith. To this end he wanted to share with them some spiritual insight or gift he had received from the Spirit. His visit with them would provide the opportunity to accomplish that purpose. Here again we see the focus of Paul’s ministry. A visit to Rome would not be for personal advantage or pleasure. It would serve to strengthen the faith of those who recently had turned from idols to serve the living God (cf. 1 Thess 1:9).”
“[Paul] knows about the reciprocal blessings of Christian fellowship and, although he is an apostle, he is not too proud to acknowledge his need of it. Happy is the modern missionary who goes to another country and culture in the same spirit of receptivity, anxious to receive as well as give, to learn as well as teach, to be encouraged as well as to encourage! And happy is the congregation who has a pastor of the same humble mind!”
Step 5 – Celebrate Your Accomplishment
At the end of each lesson at Redemption Seminary, we take time to celebrate and enjoy the fruit of our labor. The Lord himself has given us a pattern of resting and looking back to enjoy the result of our work. Congratulations for taking time this day to reflect on the Lord’s word and how he has blessed you to encourage others and be encouraged by them. 🙌🎉 Please take a moment to thank the Lord for those He has given you to bless and then enjoy the encouragement of the Lord as He stands by your efforts steadfastly. 🙏
Step 6: Ideas for Further Study
Read more about this passage in another commentary (Logos link to this passage quoted in the Holman NT Commentary)