(6) Authenticity and Integrity. The authen ticity of this epistle has never been questioned. The epistle to the Romans is quoted as early as the first and second century by Clem ens Romanus and Polycarp. Its integrity has been attacked by theologians who pretend chapters xv and xvi are spurious, but only, as we have observed above, because these chapters do not harmonize with the supposition that the Christian church at Rome consisted of rigid Judaizers. Schmidt and Reiche consider the doxology at the conclusion of ch. xvi nut to be genuine. In this doxology the anacolouthical and unconnected style causes some surprise, and the whole has been deemed to be out of its place (verses 26 and 27). We, however, observe, in reply to Schmidt and Reiche, that such defects of style may be easily explained from the circum stance, that the apostle hastened to the conclu sion, but would be quite inexplicable in additions of a copyist who had time for calm consideration. The same words occur in different passages of the Epistle, and it must be granted that such a fluctuation sometimes indicates an interpolation. In the Codex i, in most of the Codices Minusculi, as well as in Chrysostorn, the words occur at the conclusion of ch. xiv. In the Codices B. C. D. E., and in the Syrian translation, this doxology occurs at the conclusion of ch. xvi. In Codex A it occurs in both places; whilst in Codex D the words are wanting entitely, and they seem not to fit into either of the two places. If the dox ology be put at the conclusion of ch. xiv, Paul seems to promise to those Christians weak in faith, of whom he had spoken, a confirmation of their belief. But it seems unfit (unj5assend) in this connection to call the Gospel an eternal mys tery, and the doxology seems here to interrupt the connection between chapters xiv and xv ; and at the conclusion of chapter xvi it seems to be su perfluous, since the blessing had been pronounced already in ,verse 24. We, however, say that this latter circumstance need not have prevented the apostle from allowing his animated feelings to burst forth in a doxology, especially at the con clusion of an epistle which treated amply on the mystery of redemption. We find an analogous in stance in Ephes. iii :2o, 21, where a doxology oc curs after the mystery of salvation had been men tioned ; we are therefore of opinion that the dox ology is rightly placed at the conclusion of chap. xvi, and that it was in some codices erroneously transposed to the conclusion of chap. xiv, because the copyist considered the blessing in xvi :24 to be the real conclusion of the Epistle. In confirma tion of this remark we observe that the same cod ices in which the doxology occurs in chap. xvi either omit the blessing altogether, or place it after the doxology.
(7) Literature. The principal English works on the Epistle to the Romans arc: Jones, The Epistle to the Romans analysed, from a develop ment of the circumstances by which it was occa sioned, 18o1 ; Cox, Horse Romance, 1824 (transla tion with notes) ; Turner, Notes on the Epistle to the Romans, New York, 1824 (exegetical, for the use of students) ; Terrot, The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, 1828 (Greek text, paraphrase, notes, and useful prolegomena). Stuart's Coin nzentary on the Epistle to the Romans, Lon don, 1853, is undoubtedly the greatest work on this Epistle which has been produced in the English language, and may be regarded as next in importance to the admirable Commentary by the writer of the above article (Dr. Tholuck), a translation of which, by the Rev. R. Menzies, has been given in the Edinburgh Biblical Cabinet.
Among American commentators are Dr. Chas. Hodge, Philadelphia, 1864 ; S. H Turner, New York, 1853; and the popular notes of Albert Barnes. For a full view of the literature on this epistle, see the American translation of Lange's Der Brief Pauli an die Romer, New York, 1869; also the American translation of Lange's Com mentary. A. T.
ROME (corn), (Lat. Roma,. Gr. 'Pthkot, hro'may, strength).
(1) Location. The famous capital of the West ern World, and the present residence of the Pope, stands on the river Tiber, about fifteen miles from its mouth, in the plain of what is now called the Campagna (Felix ilia Campania, Pliny, Hist. Nat. iii, 6), in lat. 41° 54' N.; long. 28' E. The country around the city is not a plain, but a sort of undulating table-land, crossed by hills, while it sinks towards the southwest to the marshes of Maremma, which coast the Mediterranean. In ancient geography the country in the midst of which Rome lay was termed Lotium, which, in the earliest times, comprised within a space of about four geographical square miles the country lying between the Tiber and the Numicius, ex tending from the Alban hills to the sea, haviii for its chief city Laurentum.
Founding. Here, on the Palatine Hill, was the city of Rome, founded by Romulus and Remus, grandsons of Numitor, and sons of Rhea Sylvia, to whom, as the originators of the city, mythology ascribed a divine parentage. The origin of the term Rome is in dispute. Some derive it from the Greek hroh-may, 'strength,' consid ering that this name was given to the place as being a fortress. Cicero (De Repub. ii, 7) says the name was taken from that of its founder Romulus.
(3) Extent. At first the city had three gates, according to a sacred usage. Founded on the Palatine Hill, is was extended, by degrees, so as to take in six other hills, at the foot of which ran deep valleys that, in early times, were in part overflowed with water, while the hillsides were covered with trees. In the course of the many years during which Rome was acquiring to her self the empire of the world, the city underwent great, numerous, and important changes. Under its first kings it must have presented a very different aspect from what it did after it had been beautified by Tarquin.
(4) Growth. The destruction of the city by the Gauls (U. C. 365) caused a thorough altera tion in it; nor could the troubled times which ensued have been favorable to its being well re stored. It. was not till riches and artistic skill came into the city on the conquest of Philip of Macedon, and Antiochus of Syria (U. C. 563), that there arose in Rome large handsome stone houses. The capture of Corinth conduced much to the adorning of the city; many fine specimens of art being transferred from thence to the abode . of the conquerors. And so, as the power of Rome extended over the world, and her chief citizens went into the colonies to enrich themselves, did the masterpieces of Grecian art flow towards the capital, together with some of the taste and skill to which they owed their birth. Augustus, however, it was, who did most for embellishing the capital of the world, though there may be some sacrifice of truth in the pointed saying that he found Rome built of brick and left it marble. Subsequent emperors followed his example, till the place became the greatest repository of archi tectural, pictorial, and sculptural skill that the world has even seen; a result to which even Nero's incendiarism indirectly conduced, as af fording an occasion for the city's being rebuilt un der the higher scientific influences of the times.