Orthodox Christian Bible Commentary - Romans

The Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans
ST. PAUL VISITED ROME BEFORE ST. PETER

St. Paul, contrary to popular opinion, preaching in Rome.  In line with his stance not to “build on another man’s foundation,” the fact that St. Paul was determined to go to Rome and preach the gospel there meant no other person (namely, St. Peter) had yet to “lay a foundation” (preach) there (Rom. 15:20).

JUDAIZERS AND TRUE JUSTIFICATIONS BY CHRIST
Some Christians with Jewish backgrounds were persuading new converts that unless they practiced the Law of Moses, and unless they were circumcised as required by that law, they would not be saved.  Such “Judaizing teachers” or “Judaizes” had already disrupted churches in Antioch, Corinth, and Galatia, and the fear was that this visit would likely spread to Rome.  To prevent this, and to assure that his visit to Rome would be a pleasant one, St. Paul wrote to them to explain the truth about the nature of the gospel of God, teaching them about the doctrines of Justification and Sanctification.