The Book of Romans is Paul's introduction of himself and his doctrine to the local church in Rome, Italy, which he planned to visit after his ca. AD 58 visit to Jerusalem. The book was written ca. AD 57?58 at Corinth, Achaia (Greece), at the end of Paul's third missionary journey, before Paul went to Jerusalem and was arrested.
In Romans chapters 1?8 Paul contrasts righteousness by faith against righteousness by works. The rule of faith is sinners are saved by faith and the saved live by faith. The meaning of the text is explained using the literal historical-grammatical hermeneutic. Paul's letter to the local church in Rome is a rational study of genuine Christianity. Excursuses and appendices expand on key doctrines underlying Paul's assertions.