The significance of the Epistle to the Romans in the series of epistles of St. Paul and within the framework of the New Testament as a whole can hardly be overestimated. It is no coincidence that it occupies the first place in the canon: this indicates that, in the judgment of the ancient Church, it is this message that is most suitable for serving as an introduction to the rich world of the ideas of ap. Paul. Surpassing his other epistles in volume and content, it is also the most thoughtful creation of the apostle and represents his conscious literary work.