| | 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 [[saint]]s 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 [[heretic]]al - 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. | | 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 [[saint]]s 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 [[heretic]]al - 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> |