Paul's Letter to the Romans (or simply, Romans) is one of the most important documents in the New Testament. Written about the year 57-58 AD, Paul seem to have two main purposes in writing the letter: 1) to share with the Christians in Rome a "spiritual gift" (1:11) which he felt was uniquely his that he thought would encourage them as well as enable them to understand his mission to the Gentiles, and 2) to seek their assistance for the extenstion of his ministry to Spain (1:13; 15:24). It is the longest of Paul's many letters, and is so rich theologically, older commentaries have tended to view it as a "compendium of Christian doctrine." Romans was a letter, and it should be understood as such. We will fail to understand it for what it was if we view it any other way. It's power and relevance have not vaned and it remains, possibly apart from the Gospels, the most written about book of the NT.
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