Gifts of the Spirit · Service Gifts (Romans 12) · Giving
metadidōmi · to share, impart, give a portion · ὁ μεταδιδούς, the one giving
the grace to give a share — generously, simply, and with joy
One word · to give a share of
The Greek μεταδίδωμι means to give someone a share of what you have — to impart, to pass a portion across. Paul qualifies it with ἐν ἁπλότητι — “in simplicity”: giving that is single-hearted, sincere, free of mixed motives and strings. (See the companion study on ἁπλότης — Biblical Prosperity — for that generous-hearted lifestyle in full.)
As a gift, this is more than ordinary generosity (to which all are called): it is a special grace to give — often quietly, often sacrificially, often funding what others are gifted to do. The giver's joy is the work itself, not the credit.
The grace defined; the Macedonians who gave beyond their means; how it manifests; how it sustains church and home church; and the simplicity that keeps it pure.
Give a share — in single-hearted simplicity.
ὁ μεταδιδοὺς ἐν ἁπλότητι
ho metadidous en haplotēti
the one giving, with simplicity.
The qualifier is the key: ἁπλότητι, simplicity — give sincerely, without show, calculation, or strings. The gift is not in the amount but in the open, single heart behind it.
Joyful giving out of deep poverty.
ἡ … πτωχεία αὐτῶν ἐπερίσσευσεν εἰς … ἁπλότητος … παρὰ δύναμιν
… haplotētos … para dynamin — beyond ability
their deep poverty overflowed in a wealth of generosity … beyond their ability.
The Macedonians turn every excuse upside down: poor, yet overflowing; pressured, yet joyful; giving beyond their means and begging for the privilege (8:4). Grace-giving is measured by the heart, not the bank balance.
Seeing needs and meeting them, often unseen.
… ἀγαθοεργεῖν … εὐμεταδότους εἶναι, κοινωνικούς
… eumetadotous einai, koinōnikous
to do good, to be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share.
It shows up as funding the gospel and the poor, quiet large gifts and faithful small ones, open homes and open hands. Givers often spot a need first and meet it before being asked — and prefer no spotlight.
The grace that pays for the work.
… διεδίδοτο … καθότι ἄν τις χρείαν εἶχεν
… diedidoto … kathoti an tis chreian eichen
it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
In the early church and in every home church since, givers make ministry possible — supporting those who teach and serve, caring for the poor among them, hosting the gathering. Women of means funded Jesus' own ministry (Luke 8:3). Behind most fruitful work stands a quiet giver.
God loves how the giver gives.
… οὐκ ἐκ λύπης ἢ ἐξ ἀνάγκης· ἱλαρὸν γὰρ δότην ἀγαπᾷ ὁ θεός
… hilaron … dotēn agapa ho theos
not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The gift's health is in its gladness and freedom — each one giving as he purposed in his heart, never squeezed. And God meets the cheerful giver with more grace, “so that you may abound in every good work” (9:8).
This gift sours in two ways. One is the giving that performs — done to be admired, announced with a trumpet (Matt 6:2). The other is the giving that buys influence — money handed over with hidden strings, expecting to steer or to be honored. Ananias and Sapphira show how a gift can become a lie.
σοῦ … μὴ γνώτω ἡ ἀριστερά … ὅπως ᾖ σου ἡ ἐλεημοσύνη ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ
… en tō kryptō — in secret
do not let your left hand know … that your giving may be in secret.
The simplicity (ἁπλότης) Paul commands is the cure for both ditches: give in secret, with no trumpet and no strings, and your Father who sees in secret rewards you. The gift is for the work and the worker — never for the giver's name or power.
If God has graced you to give, give freely and simply, and treasure the privilege the Macedonians prized so highly. Fund what others are gifted to do. Watch for needs and meet them before they are spoken. Give in secret, give cheerfully, give beyond what seems safe — and trust the God who supplies seed to the sower to keep supplying you.
He is able to make all grace abound to you, so that you abound in every good work (2 Cor 9:8). Open hands are never empty hands for long.
Giving is both a particular gift (some are graced to give with unusual capacity and joy) and a universal command (all believers are to be generous, 1 Tim 6:18). Honoring the gifted giver never excuses the rest of us from open-handedness. And the gift is about the heart and the simplicity, not the size — the widow's two coins outgave the rich (Luke 21:1–4).
This study is about the grace to give, not a promise that giving makes you rich. Beware the teaching that treats giving as a transaction to enrich the giver. God may indeed supply more so you can give more (2 Cor 9:8) — but the reward of this gift is the joy of the work funded and the God who is honored, not a return on investment.
Every Christian is called to be generous, yet Romans 12 singles out giving as a distinct charisma. Some people carry an unusual grace to provide — they earn in order to give, they sense needs early, they part with large sums without flinching. If that is you, name it as a calling, steward it on purpose, and let it fund the Kingdom. (For the wider generous life, see the study on ἁπλότης — Biblical Prosperity.)
The one word Paul attaches to giving — ἁπλότητι, “in simplicity” — is the whole safeguard. Give with a single, sincere heart: no trumpet, no strings, no leverage, no scorekeeping. Money is the easiest gift to corrupt with motive, so the giver guards the heart most of all. Give in secret to the God who sees in secret, and let Him handle the honor.
| Theme | Key texts |
|---|---|
| The grace to give | Rom 12:8; 1 Tim 6:17–19 |
| Giving beyond means | 2 Cor 8:1–5; Luke 21:1–4; Mark 12:41–44 |
| Funding the work | Acts 4:34–37; Luke 8:1–3; Phil 4:15–18 |
| Cheerful & free | 2 Cor 9:6–8; Prov 11:25 |
| In secret | Matt 6:1–4; Acts 5:1–4 |