| A lady visitor had come to see the apostle Paul in the home where he was staying in the city of Corinth. Her name was Phoebe. She was leaving soon to go to Rome and apparently asked Paul to commend her to the church there. (See Romans 16:1.) So Paul wrote a letter to the church at Rome. It was possibly much longer than he first intended but it has become one of the greatest statements of the Christian faith that has ever been written. Who started the church at Rome? Certainly not Paul. He had never been there when he wrote this letter (v. 13). And certainly not Peter. He had not been there up to this time either. Then who did start it? Perhaps converts from the Day of Pentecost or some of Paul's converts began this church. In the last chapter Paul mentions 27 people he knew in the church at Rome. How does Paul start his letter? He begins with his own name followed by the word 'slave'. It is remarkable that in writing to the church in a city where there were thousands of slaves and where the life of a slave meant nothing, that he should call himself a slave. Yet the Christians would understand what he was trying to say to them. Paul considered himself the complete servant of Christ, always available to carry out his will no matter the cost. Paul loved Christ very, very much. Can't you feel this coming through as you read these verses? Firstly there is Paul's relationship to Christ, then he tells us about Christ himself. He reminds us of Christ's position, of his death and resurrection and of the privilege of serving Christ. He includes all the church in Rome as members of Christ (v. 7) and sends his greetings to them. Even those greetings are only possible because of Christ. Remember Paul's testimony: TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST. | 
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