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[[Paul]]'s '''Epistle to the Romans''' (often referred to as simply "Romans") is the sixth book in the [[New Testament]], and the 53rd book of the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Bible]], the 52nd of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] Bible, and 45th of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Bible. See [[Biblical Canon]].

[[Paul]]'s '''Epistle to the Romans''' (often referred to as simply "Romans") is the sixth book in the [[New Testament]], and the 53rd book of the [[Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]] [[Bible]], the 52nd of the [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] Bible, and 45th of the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Bible. See [[Biblical Canon]].  It is the first of what are commonly called the "Pauline Epistles" (books of the Bible, originally letters, written by the Apostle Paul).

This Epistle is considered perhaps the most important letter in all of [[Christianity]].  '''''Many Christians would pick this letter "if they could only have one book of the Bible on a deserted island'''''," observes ''The New Student Bible''.  The purpose of this Epistle is to preach to Roman Christians.  Much of its focus is on doctrine, and some scholars believe that Paul was writing because the Romans did not understand the [[faith]].  

This Epistle is considered perhaps the most important letter in all of [[Christianity]].  '''''Many Christians would pick this letter "if they could only have one book of the Bible on a deserted island'''''," observes ''The New Student Bible''.  The purpose of this Epistle is to preach to Roman Christians.  Much of its focus is on doctrine, and some scholars believe that Paul was writing because the Romans did not understand the [[faith]].  

Romans contains a logical and straightforward condemnation of wickedness, including [[homosexuality]] (Romans 1:32 even condemns approval of homosexuality, even by those who do not practice it).  Often-quoted passages of Romans include 1:18-32 (with verse 28 and its phrase "reprobate mind" being among the most quoted) and several verses used in an evangelistic tool commonly referred to as the "Roman Road" to salvation (often quoted in the order 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9 and 10:13).

Romans contains a logical and straightforward condemnation of wickedness, including [[homosexuality]] (Romans 1:32 condemns even the approval of homosexuality by those who do not themselves practice it).  Often-quoted passages of Romans include 1:18-32 (with verse 28 and its phrase "reprobate mind" being among the most quoted) and several verses used in an evangelistic tool commonly referred to as the "Roman Road" to salvation (often quoted in the order 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9 and 10:13).

==Authorship and Audience==  

==Authorship and Audience==  

Written between A.D. 54 and 59 in Corinth by Paul (Rom. 16:1,23; 1 Cor. 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:20), before he departed to bring a collection to the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-26). Its Divine inspiration has been held with great uniformity. Barnes states, "In the church it has never been called into question as a genuine, inspired book, except by three of the ancient sects deemed heretical - the Ebionites, the Encratites, and Cerinthians. However, even they did not deny that it was written by the apostle Paul. They rejected it because they could not make its doctrines harmonize with their views of other parts of the Scriptures."  

Written between A.D. 54 and 59 in Corinth by Paul (Rom. 16:1,23; 1 Cor. 1:14; 2 Tim. 4:20), before he departed to bring a collection to the poor saints at Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25-26). Its Divine inspiration has been held with great uniformity. Barnes states, "In the church it has never been called into question as a genuine, inspired book, except by three of the ancient sects deemed heretical - the Ebionites, the Encratites, and Cerinthians. However, even they did not deny that it was written by the apostle Paul. They rejected it because they could not make its doctrines harmonize with their views of other parts of the Scriptures." Even "modern scholars" agree that Paul was the author.

The first chapter establishes Jews and Gentiles as Paul's object of ministry, (Rom. 1:13-16) though specifically its direct object is understood to be Jewish sojourners in Rome, and Gentile proselytes to the Jewish religion.<ref>Adam Clarke,  LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832), Preface to the Epistle to the Romans</ref> It would have been written in Greek, which it is thought Paul was fluent in, and which Barnes notes "was then understood at Rome and extensively spoken. It was a part of polite education to learn it. The Roman youth were taught it; and it was the fashion of the times to study it, even so much so as to make it a matter of complaint that the Latin was neglected for it by the Roman youth. Thus, Cicero (Pro Arch. 10) says, “The Greek language is spoken in almost all nations; the Latin is confined to our comparatively narrow borders.”<ref>Albert Barnes, Introduction to Romans</ref>

The first chapter establishes Jews and Gentiles as Paul's object of ministry, (Rom. 1:13-16) though specifically its direct object is understood to be Jewish sojourners in Rome, and Gentile proselytes to the Jewish religion.<ref>Adam Clarke,  LL.D., F.S.A., (1715-1832), Preface to the Epistle to the Romans</ref> It would have been written in Greek, which it is thought Paul was fluent in, and which Barnes notes "was then understood at Rome and extensively spoken. It was a part of polite education to learn it. The Roman youth were taught it; and it was the fashion of the times to study it, even so much so as to make it a matter of complaint that the Latin was neglected for it by the Roman youth. Thus, Cicero (Pro Arch. 10) says, “The Greek language is spoken in almost all nations; the Latin is confined to our comparatively narrow borders.”<ref>Albert Barnes, Introduction to Romans</ref>