7. _Date of the Epistle to the Romans:_ Although this epistle stands first among the Pauline letters, this position has been accorded to it, not because it is the earliest in point of time, but partly owing to its doctrinal importance, and mainly on account of its being addressed to the metropolis of the world. Its probable date is the early spring of the year 58 A. D." (Bible Treasury, p. 135.) 8. _Its Purpose:_ St. Paul's primary purpose in writing to the Romans was to explain why during the many years of his missionary journeyings he had never yet reached Rome, and to pave the way for his intended visit. He had many friends among the Christians of Rome (ch. 16), and it is likely that in a friendly way they had been chiding him with attending so much to others, and so little to them. He assures them that this was due to no oblivion of the claims of Rome, nor to any intentional neglect on his part. On the contrary, he, himself a Roman citizen, had intensely felt the attraction of Rome, and had 'oftentimes' (i: 13) proposed to visit it, and had only been hindered by work from which he could not escape." (Bible Treasury, p. 135.) 9. _The Gospel According to St. Paul Expounded in Romans:_ "St. Paul takes the opportunity of presenting an exposition of his 'gospel' more systematic than we have in any other of his letters. Why, if he expected so soon to see his friends in Rome? Possibly because it was said that he shrank from bringing his bare and simple gospel into the trying light of the metropolis. It is not this, he says, that hinders him from coming to Rome. 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.' (i: 16). And having good reason to know the precariousness of life, and the delays which may hinder and retard the best intentions, he at once proceeds to give the main outline of his habitual teaching. It was natural that, while proposing greatly to extend his mission, he should wish to make clear to the church of the imperial city, the center of the Gentile world, what his gospel was, and that it was applicable to Gentiles as well as to Jews, to metropolitans as well as to provincials. The letter is a justification of his mission to the Gentiles." (Bible Treasury, p. 135.)