Why Did Paul Write Romans?

Ai generated image of what a scribe in the days of Paul would have looked like.

Suggested reading: Romans 1:8–15; Romans 15:14–33; Romans 16:1–2, 21–23

Most of Paul's letters were written to solve a specific problem in a church he had planted. Romans is different. Paul wrote it to strangers, and the final chapters tell us why.

Where and when

Paul most likely wrote Romans around AD 57, near the end of his third missionary journey. Acts tells us he spent three months in Greece at that time (Acts 20:2–3), and the clues in Romans point to the city of Corinth.

He was staying with a man named Gaius, who hosted Paul and the whole church (Romans 16:23). He also sends greetings from Erastus, the city treasurer (Romans 16:23). Archaeologists in Corinth have found a first-century paving stone naming an Erastus who paid for the pavement himself. It may well be the same man.

Paul did not write the letter with his own hand. A scribe named Tertius did, and he even adds his own greeting (Romans 16:22).

Phoebe, the letter carrier

The letter was carried to Rome by Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae, the port town next to Corinth (Romans 16:1–2). Paul asks the Romans to welcome her and help her with whatever she needs, because she had been a great help to many, including Paul.

Think about that trip: hundreds of miles by sea and road, carrying what would become one of the most important documents in history. Phoebe would likely have read the letter aloud and answered questions about what Paul meant.

Paul's travel plans

Romans 15 lays out Paul's itinerary, and it explains a lot about the letter.

1. Jerusalem first. Paul was about to deliver an offering from the Gentile churches of Macedonia and Achaia to poor believers in Jerusalem (Romans 15:25–26). He saw this gift as a living picture of Jews and Gentiles united in Christ.

2. Then Rome. He had wanted to visit Rome for years but had been hindered (Romans 1:13; 15:22–23).

3. Then Spain. Paul's real goal was to take the gospel west, to places where Christ had not yet been named (Romans 15:20, 24, 28).

Rome was to be Paul's base for that mission, much like Antioch had been in the east. He was hoping the Roman believers would send him on his way with prayer and support (Romans 15:24).

So why such a long letter?

If you are asking people to partner with you, they need to know what you believe. Romans is Paul's careful, orderly explanation of the gospel he preached. It covers sin, grace, faith, new life in the Spirit, God's plan for Israel, and how believers should live together.

Paul also knew rumors about him were circulating. Some claimed his message of grace encouraged people to sin (Romans 3:8; 6:1). Romans answers those charges directly.

And Paul had heard about tensions in the Roman church between Jewish and Gentile believers. Much of the letter, especially chapters 14–15, calls them to welcome one another as Christ welcomed them (Romans 15:7).

How it turned out

Paul did reach Rome, but not the way he planned. He was arrested in Jerusalem, held for two years in Caesarea, shipwrecked on Malta, and finally arrived in Rome in chains (Acts 21–28). Whether he ever made it to Spain, we do not know for sure.

God still used every step. Paul's plans changed, but his letter has gone further than he could ever have traveled, reaching every continent and, this fall, our own church family.

Join us Sunday at Harvest Community Church as we continue our journey through Romans.