esire on the part of Paul to see Rome (Acts 19:21;
Rom. 1:11; 15:24-28). As this would be his first visit
it was no more than a courteous act that he should write
to the church of this intention. Again as the Christians
in Rome might have heard false and distorted reports of
the gospel which he preached, Paul takes care to clearly
and logically set forth the principles and doctrines which
he was teaching. This letter then becomes very
important as the summing up of the experience and teaching of
many years of service in the cause of Jesus Christ.

+Place and Time+.--This Epistle was in all probability
written from Corinth during Paul's stay there in the
course of his third missionary journey 58 A.D. (compare
Acts 19:21; 20:1-3; Rom. 16:23; 1 Cor. 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:20).

+Central Thought.+--The theme is justification by faith
and not by works. There are four main positions. First,
All are guilty before God. Second, All need a Savior.
Third, Christ died for all. Fourth, We are all (through
faith) one body in Him. The thought may be put in
other ways, but all to the same purpose. The doctrine
of sin, and the doctrine of grace; or the universality of
sin and the universality of grace.

+Principal Divisions and Chief Points.+--There are
two great sections, Doctrinal (ch. 1-11), and Practical,
(ch. 12-16).

1. Introduction (1:1-15). Paul's salutation to and
thanksgiving for (the faith of) the Roman church.

2. Doctrinal (1:16-11:36). (a) The great theme
stated, Justification by Faith. (b) All have sinned and
all are guilty, Gentiles without the law and Jews with the
law have failed to attain righteousness. (c) Righteousness
for all comes through faith in Jesus Christ and not
by law or works; the universality of grace. Abraham
was justified by faith (ch. 4). The blessedness of
justification by faith in Jesus Christ (ch. 5). (d)
Objections against free grace that it will multiply sin or
discredit the law are taken up and answered. Thorough
union with Christ on the part of the believer annihilates
sin and the law has no more any power. The believer
justified by his faith in Christ is dead to the law while
quickened to a new and holy life by the Spirit. (e) The
apparent rejection of Israel is the problem considered in
chapters 9-11. The nation sought righteousness through
the law and not by faith. (f) Christ is the end of the law
for righteousness. (g) The restoration of Israel.

3. Practical (