PAUL AND ROME

At Corinth Paul felt himself at a turning-point in his career. The communities which he had founded between the Syrian Antioch and Corinth were established in the faith. They had vindicated their loyalty to the Mother-Church of Christendom and to the teaching entrusted to its charge by the alms which they had collected for its support. At the same time it might be hoped that they had passed through the difficulties which were liable to attend the first foundation of any Church, whether in the form of external persecution or in that of internal dissensions and distortions of the Gospel. Thus his continued personal supervision was no longer necessary; and his recent experiences at Corinth had shown that in matters where patience and tact were more necessary than burning outbursts of enthusiasm he could act more effectively through letters and delegates than through personal visits. All that remained was to set the seal on this stage of his labours by visiting Jerusalem as the bearer of the collection which was the proof of the loyalty of the Gentile Christians, before proceeding to fresh labours in other lands.

The next stage was bound to begin with a visit to Rome, the capital of the world. Here indeed he had to depart from the line of action which he had hitherto followed. Rome had already been evangelized, and he had avoided working where others had preached before him.