Impart
The Biblical Meaning of Impart
The English word "impart" translates the Greek word meaning "to share" or "to give a portion of what one has." Unlike mere teaching or instruction, imparting suggests a personal investment — giving something of oneself to another. In the New Testament, Paul uses this word in contexts that emphasize the deeply relational nature of Christian ministry and the generous exchange at the heart of the gospel.
Imparting Spiritual Gifts
In Romans 1:11, Paul writes, "I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong." This is one of Paul's reasons for wanting to visit the Roman church. The "spiritual gift" he hopes to impart is not a miraculous ability but rather the strengthening of faith that comes through personal fellowship, teaching, and mutual encouragement. Paul immediately qualifies his statement in the next verse, saying he wants to be "mutually encouraged" by each other's faith (Romans 1:12), showing that imparting is not a one-directional transaction but a shared experience.
Imparting Nothing Additional
In Galatians 2:6, Paul uses the same word in a different context. Describing his meeting with the Jerusalem apostles, he says they "added nothing" (or "imparted nothing") to his message. The point is that the Jerusalem leaders — James, Peter, and John — recognized that Paul's gospel was complete and needed no correction or supplement. This use of "impart" underscores the sufficiency and integrity of the gospel Paul preached.
Imparting One's Own Soul
Perhaps the most profound use of "impart" comes in 1 Thessalonians 2:8, where Paul writes, "Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well." The word translated "share" is the same root as "impart." Paul and his companions did not merely deliver a message; they gave themselves — their time, energy, safety, and affection — to the Thessalonian believers. This passage reveals that authentic Christian ministry involves the impartation of one's whole life, not just words.
The Generosity of Sharing
Luke 3:11 uses a related concept when John the Baptist instructs, "Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same." While a different Greek word is used, the principle is the same: imparting means dividing what you have so that others receive what they need. This ethic of generous sharing runs throughout the New Testament, from the early church's communal life in Acts 2:44-45 to Paul's instructions about financial giving.
A Model for Christian Community
The biblical concept of imparting provides a model for Christian relationships at every level. Believers are called not merely to transmit information but to share their lives — their gifts, their resources, their very selves — with one another and with the world. This pattern reflects the ultimate impartation: God giving His own Son for the sake of humanity.
Biblical Context
The word 'impart' appears in Romans 1:11 (spiritual gifts), Galatians 2:6 (the Jerusalem apostles adding nothing to Paul's gospel), and 1 Thessalonians 2:8 (sharing one's own life). The concept of generous sharing also appears in Luke 3:11 and Acts 2:44-45. All uses emphasize the personal, sacrificial nature of authentic giving.
Theological Significance
Imparting in the New Testament reveals that Christian ministry is fundamentally relational, not merely informational. Paul's desire to impart spiritual gifts is inseparable from his desire for mutual encouragement. The concept teaches that the gospel is not just a message to be delivered but a life to be shared. This reflects God's own nature as one who gives generously and personally, ultimately imparting His Son for the world's salvation.
Historical Background
The Greek word for 'impart' was used in ordinary contexts for sharing food, resources, or news. Paul's application of the word to spiritual realities elevated everyday language into theological vocabulary. In the Greco-Roman world, patron-client relationships involved the exchange of gifts and obligations, but Paul's concept of mutual impartation subverted this hierarchy by emphasizing reciprocity and self-giving love rather than social debt.