During his sojourn at Corinth, Paul found time to look forward to new and wider fields of service. His contemplated journey to Rome especially occupied his thoughts. To see the Christian faith firmly established at the great center of the known world was one of his dearest hopes and most cherished plans. A church had already been established in Rome, and the apostle desired to secure the co-operation of the believers there in the work to be accomplished in Italy and in other countries. To prepare the way for his labors among these brethren, many of whom were as yet strangers to him, he sent them a letter announcing his purpose of visiting Rome and his hope of planting the standard of the cross in Spain.

Under sit ophold i Korint fik Paulus tid til at se frem til nye og større arbejdsmarker. Hans påtænkte rejse til Rom optog ganske særligt hans tanker. Det var et af hans kæreste håb og hans yndlingstanke at se den kristne tro fast grundlagt i verdens hovedstad. Der var allerede oprettet en menighed i Rom og apostlen ville gerne sikre sig de derboende troendes medvirken til det arbejde, der skulle udføres i Italien og andre lande. For at berede vejen for sit arbejde blandt disse brødre, af hvilke mange endnu var fremmede for ham, sendte han dem et brev, hvori han meddelte dem sin hensigt om at besøge Rom og sit håb om at rejse korsets banner i Spanien.