Physical Presence Is a Spiritual Gift by DAVID KAKISH for The Gospel Coalition
For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine. (Rom 1:11–12)
In his introduction to the church in Rome, Paul communicates with deep, familial emotion that he longs to be present with believers there. Among myriad reasons for his hopeful future visit, he desires to impart “some spiritual gift” to strengthen them.
What is this spiritual gift?
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Some have argued it is preaching the gospel, the sign gifts (tongues, translation, prophecy), or the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:6). The problem, of course, is Paul does not say this. One thing is clear: giving the gift is tied to Paul’s visit. He is the conveyer of the gift, and it cannot, therefore, be given by letter or proxy.
One passage that may help to shine light on this esoteric gift is 1 Thessalonians 2:1–16. Paul reminds the Thessalonians of his ministry among them. In verse 8, he tells the church they were “affectionately desirous of you,” translated differently, “they longed for them.” He goes on to say: “We were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves” (1 Thess. 2:8). In verse 17, Paul laments being “torn away” from the Thessalonians and tells them he has a “great desire to see you face to face” (1 Thess. 2:17).
This, I think, is the key to understanding what Paul means by “some spiritual gift” in Romans 1:11.
Paul Is the Gift
The reason Paul doesn’t specify the gift, and why it cannot be received apart from his personal visit, is because he himself is the gift. He longs to be with them in the flesh. He’s ambiguous as to the form of the spiritual gift because he doesn’t know what they need. As always, he’s willing to become all things to all people (1 Cor. 9:22), but he needs to be present first to determine how best to serve them.
But why does embodied presence even matter? What’s the difference between a letter and a face-to-face conversation?
This is a terribly relevant question for us now. Everything feels backward. I had to chide my parents for going out, my wife wants me to go fishing, my kids wish they could go back to school, and I’m telling our church the best way to love one another right now is by physically distancing themselves.
