Introducing Paul

The authority of the apostle was an ongoing issue in many churches, not least among those very churches that he founded (see 1, 2 Cor or Gal). Why would Rome be different? The Roman churches were not started by Paul, nor did Paul’s preaching and understanding form them as they began to take shape. What right does Paul have to write such a letter to them? Why should they listen? Why should we? Anticipating such questions, Paul gives a lengthy introduction to his letter, where his sets his apostleship from Christ as his authoritative stamp from the Lord himself.