Wordsworth, Christopher: Greece, Pictorial, Descriptive, and Historical. London, 1839.
Weiss, Bernhard: A Manual of Introduction to the New Testa- ment. Translated by A. J. K. Davidson. 2 vols. New York, 1889.
Weiss, Bernhard : Das Marcusevangelium und seine synoptischen Parallelen. Berlin, 1872.
Young, Robert: Analytical Concordance to the Bible. Hdin- burgh, 1880.
Young, John: The Life and Light of Men. London, 1866.
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Tux life and labors of Paul are fully treated in well-known and easily accessible works. His language and style will be discussed in the fourth and final volume of this work. I shall confine this introduction to an account of the several epistles treated in the present volume.
The Roman Church had been for some time in existence when Paul wrote this epistle (see ch. i. 8, 10, 12, 13; xv. 23). That he was acquamted with many of its members appears from the salutations in the sixteenth chapter. In Acts xxviii. 15, the existence of the Church is assumed as well known, and the company which meets the apostle at Appii Forum has clear- ly the character of a deputation. The date and circumstances of the origin and organization of the Church cannot, however, be certainly determined.
The Church consisted of both Jews and Gentiles; but the predominance of the Gentile element is apparent from the epistle itself (see ch. i. 5, 12-16; ili. 97-80 ; iv. 6g vi. 19; x1. 18, 25, 28, 30; xv. 1, 8, 15).*
Paul had long desired to preach the Gospel at Rome, but when, apparently, on the eve of accomplishing his wish, his plan was complicated by the necessity of visiting Jerusalem with the collection for “ the poor saints.” THe did not, in any event, contemplate a long stay in Rome, intending to take it en route for Spain. Being thus delayed, he determined to
* The student will find a clear summary of the evidences for the Gentile character of the Church in Weiss’ ‘‘ Introduction to the New Testament. ?
x INTRODUCTION.
write at once, in order both to meet the immediate needs of the Church and to prepare the way for his personal presence. The epistle was written during his last visit at Corinth (Acts xx. 2, 3), and was despatched by the hands of Phoebe the deaconess,* about a.p. 59. Its authenticity is generally conceded, together with the fact that it was written in Greek, though some Roman Catholic critics have maintained that it was written in Latin. There is nothing surprising in its having been written in Greek, since the Greek language was prevalent at Rome, hay- ing become indeed the general language of the world, and the composition of the letter in Greek accords with Paul’s Hellenic associations and training. The Latin fathers never claim their own language as the original of any part of the New Testa- ment, and Ignatius, Justin, and Irenaeus all wrote in Greek to Romans.
The aim of the epistle is didactic rather than polemic, though it acquires a polemic flavor in its opposition of Christianity to legalism. It is distinguished among the epistles by its system- atic character. Its object is to present a comprehensive state- ment of the doctrine of salvation through Christ, not a com- plete system of christian doctrine. Its theme is, The Gospel, the power of God unto salvation to Jew and Gentile alike ; a power because of its revelation of a righteousness of God for believers.
In the development of this theme Paul shows that Jew and Gentile are alike violators of divine law, and are consequently exposed to the divine wrath, from which there is no deliverance through works or ordinances, but only through the Gospel of Jesus Christ accepted by faith.
In insisting upon this universal condition of salvation, God neither violates His original covenant with Israel, nor deprives Himself of the right to judge sin.