When was Romans written?

Near the end of the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys, he sought to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in the heart of the Roman Empire, the city of Rome (cf. Romans 15:23–25). In preparation for his visit, he introduced himself and his message in a letter he wrote to the Christians in the city. This letter, the book of Romans, is considered one of the most profound presentations of Christianity ever written. Paul wrote Romans near the end of his third missionary journey, in either AD 56 or 57.

Details in the book of Acts provide insight into when Paul wrote Romans. Most scholars believe he composed the letter during his stay in Corinth, before he traveled to Jerusalem and eventually to Rome (cf. Acts 20:2–3). In Romans 15:23, Paul writes, “I have longed for many years to come to you,” indicating that he had not yet visited the city. His longing was finally fulfilled when he arrived in Rome as a prisoner, as described at the conclusion of Acts.

Internal evidence dating Romans to AD 56 or 57 includes Paul’s mention of people closely associated with the city of Corinth. For example, Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea, is named in Romans 16:1–2. A man named Gaius is mentioned in Romans 16:23 and is likely the same person referred to in 1 Corinthians 1:14. Paul also mentions Erastus, the city of Corinth’s director of public works, who is mentioned again in 2 Timothy 4:20. These individuals help confirm that Paul was in Corinth in the mid-50s when he wrote Romans.

Moreover, near the end of the letter to the Romans, Paul said he had “fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ” from Jerusalem to Illyricum (Romans 15:19). He explains that he was preparing to take an offering for Christians in Jerusalem before traveling to Spain (Romans 15:25, 28). This plan aligns with the last leg of his third missionary journey (Acts 20—21). Taken together, these details support the view that Romans was written near the end of Paul’s stay in Corinth. It was likely composed during the winter of AD 56—57. This makes Romans one of Paul’s final letters written during his missionary journeys.

Paul’s proclamation of the good news of Jesus in Romans is bold and powerful. He summarizes his passion at the beginning of the letter. Paul declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16). During a time of rampant immorality in the Roman world, Paul brought the message that was desperately needed. This made his preaching all the more courageous.