Unlimited: Those Who Are in the Lord
Jan 4, 2024 316
Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord (Romans 16:10b–11).
Wealthier households in the Roman world were structured around the head of the family. The extended family and their financial dependents, including slaves, would live together. This helped the message of Jesus spread quickly, as the influential heads of the households accepted it, and then their households would follow.
Here, Paul mentions two such households: that of Aristobulus and Narcissus. The fact that he greets those who belong to those households, and “who are in the Lord”, suggests that in these cases, Aristobulus and Narcissus themselves were not Christians. This would have made it more difficult for the believers in these situations.
He greets those who belong to those households, and “who are in the Lord”, suggesting Aristobulus and Narcissus themselves were not Christians.
We know the names “Aristobulus” and “Narcissus” from Roman history, and it is possible that these are the same persons whom Paul mentions here. Aristobulus was a grandson of Herod the Great, who lived in Rome as a friend of the emperor. Narcissus was a very wealthy man who was also a friend of the emperor Claudius. Upon their deaths, it is possible that their households may have been passed to the emperor either by bequest or confiscation. If this is correct, then these believers would have been the ones of which Paul wrote while in Rome:
All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22.)
Spiritual Application
Have you ever found it difficult to follow Jesus in an environment which rejected him? That was the situation in which those of the household of Aristobulus and Narcissus found themselves. What lessons did you learn about remaining faithful to Jesus that can serve you in the future?
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