Who is the author of the Book of Romans?

Authorship Overview

The Book of Romans opens with a clear statement of authorship: “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the gospel of God…” (Romans 1:1). From its earliest circulation, both internal and external evidence overwhelmingly points to the Apostle Paul as the inspired writer of this epistle.

Below, each section explores various lines of evidence—textual, historical, and theological—that affirm Paul’s authorship and reinforce the Epistle to the Romans as a unified and consistent part of Scripture.

I. Internal Evidence: Paul’s Self-Identification

The letter explicitly names Paul as its author. Within the text, the verbal style, theological emphasis, and pastoral tone align closely with his other letters in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians). Specific features include:

• References to his ministry and desire to visit Rome (Romans 1:10–15).

• Signature doctrinal themes such as justification by faith (Romans 3:21–31), the interplay of law and grace (Romans 7), and life in the Spirit (Romans 8).

• Personal remarks, travel plans, and greetings characteristic of Paul’s letters (Romans 15–16).

This consistency of doctrine and manner of address reflects the mind of the Apostle Paul, whose style and emphases appear consistently in the majority of New Testament epistles bearing his name.

II. External Evidence: Early Church Recognition

From the earliest centuries, the Church uniformly accepted Romans as Pauline. Early Christian leaders such as Irenaeus (2nd century), Tertullian (late 2nd–early 3rd century), and Origen (3rd century) quoted the epistle as an authoritative text from Paul.

Additionally, manuscript collections of Paul’s letters often placed Romans first, reflecting its importance and recognized authorship. The historical weight of these early church witnesses supports the conclusion that there was never serious doubt about Paul being the writer.

III. Historical and Cultural Context

Scholars and historians generally agree Paul wrote the letter while in Corinth, during the final phase of his third missionary journey (around AD 56–57). Records of the Roman Empire confirm the movement of people and the presence of Jewish communities in Rome, who had returned after Emperor Claudius’s earlier edict expelling them (Acts 18:2). These events align with historical sources such as Suetonius, who documented Claudius’s decree, and underscore the immediate circumstances Paul addressed.

Archaeological explorations in Corinth and elsewhere in the Mediterranean corroborate many cultural details indicative of first-century life, reinforcing the authenticity and historical reliability of the context in which Romans was composed.

IV. Role of Tertius

Toward the close of the letter, Romans 16:22 notes, “I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.” Tertius served as Paul’s secretary (amanuensis). Many ancient writers used scribes to physically pen their correspondence, so while Tertius physically wrote the words, Paul remains the epistle’s author. This detail shows the practical process of creating biblical manuscripts in the early church era, providing additional insight into how Scripture was faithfully transmitted.

V. Theological Consistency and Unity

Romans stands in seamless unity with the broader canon. Passages such as Romans 1:20, which testifies to the evidence of God’s “eternal power and divine nature,” resonate with the larger biblical testimony of a Creator God. Its extensive use of Old Testament quotations (e.g., Romans 9–11) reveals an interlocking message—a hallmark of biblical authorship and consistency.

The central focus on the resurrection of Christ (Romans 1:4; 6:4–9) reaffirms the essential gospel message preached by Paul in other Epistles (1 Corinthians 15:1–8). Coupled with the letter’s emphasis on salvation through faith, Romans succinctly represents the heart of apostolic teaching.

VI. Broader Evidences Relevant to Scripture

While the question specifically concerns Romans’s author, it is worth noting that the broader reliability of Scripture and Pauline letters rests on well-preserved manuscripts. Ancient manuscript fragments, such as those in the Chester Beatty Papyri (Papyrus 46), dating to roughly the late second century, attest to the early transmission of Paul’s letters, including Romans.

Such manuscript evidence underlines not only the authentication of authorship but also the diligence with which these texts have been preserved. Furthermore, the internal coherence and doctrinal consistency of these writings mirror the comprehensive storyline of Scripture, from creation (Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:20) to Christ’s resurrection.

VII. Conclusion

The author of the Book of Romans is indisputably the Apostle Paul. Internal evidence from the text, external witness from the early church, and the letter’s historical context all converge to affirm his authorship. Even Tertius’s role as amanuensis highlights first-century writing practices rather than challenges the conclusion that Paul directed the content.

Romans remains a keystone of theological teaching, exhibiting a consistent Christ-centered message. Its emphasis on justification by faith, the resurrection’s power, and the sovereignty of God in salvation fits perfectly with the biblical narrative of redemption—an authoritative testimony that has been recognized by Christian believers since the earliest days of the church.