What does Romans 1:11 mean?

Paul has made clear in the previous verses that he really wants to come to Rome to see his readers in person. He has submitted this desire to God in regular, ongoing prayer, waiting to see if it is God's will (Romans 1:8–10).

Now he describes why he is so eager to come and visit the Christians in Rome. He cares about them, and he wants to bring to them a spiritual gift of some kind that will strengthen them. This likely means that Paul wants to come and exercise his spiritual gifts of evangelism and teaching to help them to be stronger in Christ. Or perhaps he means to give them some kind of supernatural blessing that will help to make them stronger.

Paul seems to be aware that he has some unique ability that could build up the Christians in Rome in some way if only he could see them face to face. His motives are unselfish, although he will go on to say in the following verse that he knows them and they would be able to encourage each other.