Paul’s third purpose was to bring unity to a church in conflict. While he had never visited Rome, friends would have kept him abreast of issues there (see the list in 16:3–15). Jews and gentiles were fighting over the place of the law in the Christian life (14:1–15:13). Gentile Christians believed that Christ had fulfilled the place of the law and that they were therefore free from its demands. Jewish Christians thought the food laws and observance of holy days mandated by the law were still binding.