The Reason for Romans: The Evidence of Its Epistolary Framework (1:1–15;15:14–16:27)

Abstract

The epistolary framework of Romans provides a crucial key to answering the difficult and much debated question of why Paul wrote this epistle. For the letter opening (1:1–7), thanksgiving section (1:8–15), apostolic parousia (15:14–32), and letter closing (15:33–16:27) all establish the authority of Paul's apostleship and of his gospel over the Roman Christians in a way that wins their acceptance of his gospel as it has been “preached” in the body of the letter. Paul believed himself to be both divinely obligated and uniquely qualified to share with the Roman Christians his gospel in the conviction that this would result in the strengthening of their faith. All other proposed reasons for the writing of Romans, therefore, must be integrated into Paul's primary concern “to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome” (1:15).