Introduction to the Book of Romans
The opening verse of the Biblical book of Romans identifies Paul the Apostle as the author of this letter, while the final chapter tells us that a secretary named Tertius held the important responsibility of transcribing this message on his behalf. As we might expect, this epistle derives its name from Paul’s intended audience: the assembly of believers who gathered in Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire.
Although the book of Romans appears first among the New Testament epistles, there are other Biblical epistles that likely predate it. Nevertheless, the length and theological content of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans helps account for its prominent position within the New Testament canon.
Most commentators believe Paul authored the book of Romans while he was temporarily residing in the city of Corinth. Corinth was situated on a land area between the Aegean and Ionian seas, a location was that very attractive to seafaring travelers who were moving between the eastern and western portions of the Roman Empire. Since Corinth’s harbor narrowed to a strip of land that was only about four miles (6.5km) wide at one point, travelers and merchants found it relatively easy to cross that distance on foot and continue their ocean voyage on the other side.
This meant that Corinth served as a busy metropolitan area in the days of the first century. Thus, it should not surprise us to learn that Paul spent over eighteen months there at one point. In fact, a few of Paul’s associates from that period of his ministry also appear in the Book of Romans. (1) This further supports the theory that Paul wrote the Epistle to the Romans while he was in Corinth.
One commentator ties this timeline together…
“The life and ministry of Paul (also known as Saul of Tarsus) is well documented in Acts chapters 8 through 28, as well as Galatians 1 and 2, and 2 Corinthians 11 and 12. It is almost universally agreed that Paul wrote Romans from the city of Corinth as he wintered there on his third missionary journey as described in Acts 20:2-3 (based on Romans 16:1, 23 and 1 Corinthians 1:14).
A variety of commentators pick dates with confidence anywhere from 53 to 58. By the time Paul wrote Romans, he had been a Christian preacher for some 20 years. In Corinth, on his way to Jerusalem, he had three months without any pressing duties. He may have thought this was a good time to write ahead to Rome, a church he was planning to visit after Jerusalem.” (2)
(1) Compare Acts 20:4 and Romans 16:21–23
(2) Enduring Word. (2025, April 3). Enduring Word Bible Commentary Romans Chapter 1. https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/romans-1/