7.  The date of the epistle to the Romans, as well as the place where it was written, can be gathered with much certainty from the epistle itself, taken in connection with other notices respecting Paul found in the Acts of the Apostles.  He was about to bear alms to his brethren in Judea from Macedonia and Achaia.  Chap. 15:25, 26.  He had previously exhorted the church of Corinth in Achaia to make this very collection, which he was to receive of them when he came to them through Macedonia. 1 Cor. 16:1-6.  That he was also to bring with him a collection from the Macedonian churches is manifest from 2 Cor. 8:1-4; 9:1-4.  He wrote, moreover, from Corinth; for among the greetings at the close of the epistle is one from “Gaius mine host” (chap. 16:23), a Corinthian whom he had baptized (1 Cor. 1:14); he commends to them Phebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea, the eastern port of Corinth, chap. 16:1; and he speaks of “the city” where he is as well known (chap. 16:23), which can be no other than Corinth.  Now by comparing Acts 19:21; 20:1-3; 24:17, we find that he was then on his way to Jerusalem through Macedonia and Greece, for the last time recorded in the New Testament.  The epistle to the Romans, then, was written from Corinth during the apostle’s third missionary tour and second abode in that city, about A.D. 58.  It is the sixth of his epistles in the order of time, and stands in near connection with those to the Galatians and Corinthians, which were apparently written during the previous year.

8.  Concerning the founding of the church at Rome we have no information.  At the date of this epistle Paul had not visited it.  Chaps. 1:10-15; 15:23, 24.  Of its composition, however, we have more certain knowledge.  Founded in the metropolis of the Roman empire, where, as we know from many notices of ancient writers, many Jews resided, it must have been of a mixed character, embracing both Jews and Gentiles; with this agree the contents of the present epistle.  That the Gentile element largely predominated in the church at Rome appears from the general tenor of the epistle.  Chaps. 1:13; 11:13-25, 30, 31; 15:16.  That it had also a Jewish element is plain from the whole of chap 2, and the precepts in chap. 14.

9.  The occasion of writing seems to have been of a general character.  The apostle had often purposed to visit Rome, but had been as often hindered.  Chap. 1:13.  To compensate in part for this failure, he wrote the present epistle, having, as it appears, an opportunity to send it by Phebe, a deaconess of the church at Cenchrea.  Chap. 16:1.  The apostle’s design, like the occasion of his writing, was general.  It was natural that, in addressing a church which he had long desired to visit, he should lay himself out to unfold the gospel of Christ in its deep foundation principles, as a plan of salvation provided for the whole world, and designed to unite Jews and Gentiles in one harmonious