ROMANSROMANS

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUND

Who founded the Roman Church?Who founded the Roman Church?

Peter?Peter?

No…No…

““It has always been my ambition to It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be not known, so that I would not be

building on someone else’s building on someone else’s foundation” Rom 15:20foundation” Rom 15:20

So who?So who?

Who founded the Roman Church?Who founded the Roman Church?

Paul?Paul?

No…No…

“…“…and since I have been longing for many years to see you…” Romans

15:23

So who?So who?

Who founded the Roman Church?Who founded the Roman Church?

Probably returning Jews from Probably returning Jews from Jerusalem after the first Pentecost.Jerusalem after the first Pentecost.

The beginning of the Church in Rome The beginning of the Church in Rome was most likely in the Synagogues was most likely in the Synagogues

amongst the Jews.amongst the Jews.

But this wasn’t the type of Church But this wasn’t the type of Church Paul was writing to…Paul was writing to…

The best date for Paul’s letter is The best date for Paul’s letter is c57AD at the end of his 3c57AD at the end of his 3rdrd

missionary journey before going to missionary journey before going to Jerusalem with the gifts from Jerusalem with the gifts from Macedonia (Romans 15:25ff)Macedonia (Romans 15:25ff)

Bt something happened in Rome Bt something happened in Rome around 49AD – the Emperor Claudius around 49AD – the Emperor Claudius

expelled the Jews.expelled the Jews.

Claudius expelled them because of Claudius expelled them because of their “rioting at the instigation of their “rioting at the instigation of

ChrestusChrestus” Mentioned by 5” Mentioned by 5ththc historian c historian Orosius and also in Acts 18:2 Orosius and also in Acts 18:2

““There he (Paul) met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his

wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome.”

Claudius died in 54ADClaudius died in 54AD

Jews would have started to return by Jews would have started to return by the time of Paul’s letter in 57AD.the time of Paul’s letter in 57AD.

But maybe it was now predominantly But maybe it was now predominantly a church that met in homes. Romans a church that met in homes. Romans 16:5 “16:5 “Greetings also to the church

that meets in their house.”

So what sort of mixture would the So what sort of mixture would the churches in Rome have been like?churches in Rome have been like?

Paul’s audience was likely to be a majority Paul’s audience was likely to be a majority of Gentile Christians with a minority of of Gentile Christians with a minority of

Jewish Christians.Jewish Christians.