Romans
EPISTLE TO THE, one of the books of the New Testament, written by the Apostle Paul, and addressed to the Christian Church at Rome. It is the 5th in order of time, though placed first among the epistles, either from the predominance of Rome, or because it is the longest and most comprehensive of the apostle's epistles. It is generally agreed to have been written about A. D. 58. That it is the genuine and authentic production is supported by the strongest evidence. It was written from Corinth, and sent to Rome by one Phœbe, a servant or deaconess of the Church at Corinth. The occasion of it was, doubtless, the disputes that began to prevail among the Christians at Rome. The Church there was composed of both converted Jews and Gentiles. The Jews wished to impose on their Gentile fellow-worshipers many of the Mosaic rites and ceremonies. The Gentiles, on the other hand, despised the prejudices of the Jews; hence trouble arose.