Why was Paul writing to a church that he had previously had no interaction with? Longman claims it was to let the congregations of Rome to know to prepare for him (Paul) to visit. “He had already preached the gospel in the strategic centers of population in the East, and his restless spirit yearned to reach out to places where Christ was not known” (Longman 2008:24). Powell gives a more elaborate explanation to the purpose of the book by purposing four possible reasons Paul wrote to the Romans: (1) Paul wanted to make himself known to the Roman Christians before he visited them, (2) he wanted to gain support for the work he planned to do in Spain, (3) Paul wanted the Romans prayers regarding his upcoming trip to Jerusalem, and (4) he wanted to give the congregations counsel regarding certain issues within the congregation
Why was Paul writing to a church that he had previously had no interaction with? Longman claims it was to let the congregations of Rome to know to prepare for him (Paul) to visit. “He had already preached the gospel in the strategic centers of population in the East, and his restless spirit yearned to reach out to places where Christ was not known” (Longman 2008:24). Powell gives a more elaborate explanation to the purpose of the book by purposing four possible reasons Paul wrote to the Romans: (1) Paul wanted to make himself known to the Roman Christians before he visited them, (2) he wanted to gain support for the work he planned to do in Spain, (3) Paul wanted the Romans prayers regarding his upcoming trip to Jerusalem, and (4) he wanted to give the congregations counsel regarding certain issues within the congregation