Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Romans 16:11
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the [household] of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
11. Herodion my kinsman ] See on Rom 16:7. The name is Greek.
them that be of the household of Narcissus ] Lit., as just above, those from amongst Narcissus ’. There was one notorious Narcissus, a freedman of Claudius; and another, one of Nero’s bad favourites. Either of these may have been the master of the Christian dependents here saluted; but the name was a common one. The freedman of Claudius was probably by this time dead, but his household may have been subsisting still.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 11. Herodion, my kinsman.] Probably another converted Jew. See Clarke on Ro 16:7.
Of the household of Narcissus] Probably dead also, as we have supposed Aristobulus to have been at this time.
Which are in the Lord.] This might intimate that some of this family were not Christians; those only of that family that were converted to the Lord being saluted. There was a person of the name of Narcissus, who was a freed man of the Emperor Claudius, mentioned by Suetonius in his life of that prince, cap. 37; and by Tacitus, An., lib. xii. cap. 57: but there does not seem any reason to suppose that this was the person designed by St. Paul.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Salute Herodion my kinsman: see Rom 16:7.
Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus: this Narcissus is reported by Suetonius to have been in great favour with Claudius the emperor, and to have abounded in wealth, so that he was worth ten millions. He was a wicked man himself, yet it seems he had divers good Christians in his family. So we read that there were saints in Neros house or court, Phi 4:22. To what a degree of wickedness are they arrived, who will not suffer a religious person to dwell in their houses! This shows, that good Christians may serve wicked masters with a good conscience.
Which are in the Lord; this may be added, because that all in Narcissuss family were not Christians, or members of the church of Christ.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. Salute Herodion, my kinsman(Seeon Ro 16:7).
Greet them that be of thehousehold of Narcissus, which are in the Lordwhich impliesthat others in his house, including probably himself, were notChristians.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Salute Herodion my kinsman,…. According to the flesh, being of the same nation, a Jew; or of the same tribe, the tribe of Benjamin; or of the same family, and nearly allied in blood to him: though the name is of Attic, or Parthic original, and seems to be a derivative of Herod; this man is reckoned among the seventy disciples, and said to be bishop of Tarsus: [See comments on Lu 10:1].
Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord; some have thought, that this Narcissus is the same man that Suetonius q and other writers speak of r, who was secretary to Claudius Caesar; a very great favourite of his, who amassed a great deal of wealth under him, and was raised to great honour and dignity by him: he himself is not saluted, either because he was not at home, which might be the case, if, as Ambrose, or rather Hilary the deacon on the text says, he was a presbyter and abroad, performing his office in foreign parts; or because he was dead, or rather not a believer: if he was the same with Claudius’s favourite, he was dead before this time, being miserably put to death by Agrippina s, the wife of Claudius; and seems to have died a wicked man, and justly punished for his being the cause of the destruction of others, through his calumnies: nor are all of his household saluted, not being all converted persons; it being frequently the method of divine grace to take some of a family, and not all, and bring them to Zion; only those that were “in the Lord”, on his heart, and in his hands, secretly represented by him, and united to him, and who were openly in him, being called by his grace, and brought to believe in him, and live upon him.
q In Vita Claud sect. 28. r Tacitus, Dio, &c. s Tacit. Hist. l. 13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Herodion (H). Probably one belonging to the Herod family like that above.
Kinsman (). Merely fellow-countryman.
Them of the household of Narcissus ( ). “Narcissiani.” There was a famous freedman of this name who was put to death by Agrippa. Perhaps members of his household.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Narcissus. This name was borne by a distinguished freedman, who was secretary of letters to Claudius. Juvenal alludes to his wealth and his influence over Claudius, and says that Messalina, the wife of Claudius, was put to death by his order (” Satire, ” 14, 330). His household slaves, passing into the hands of the emperor or of some other master, would continue to bear his name.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Salute Herodian my kinsman,” (apasathe Hrodiona ton sungena moui “Greet ye Herodian my kinsman among you,” a relative of Paul, a Christian Jew, Rom 16:7; Rom 16:21.
2) “Greet them which be of the household of Narcissus,” (aspasasthe tous ek ton Narkissou. tous) “Greet ye those of the family of Narcissus”; beyond which nothing is known in the New Testament.
3) “Which are in the Lord,” (ontas en kurio) “Who are, or exist, in the Lord,” who are new creatures in Christ Jesus, who belong to him, 2Co 5:17; Mar 9:41.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
11. Who are of the family of Narcissus It would have been unbecoming to have passed by Peter in so long a catalogue, if he was then at Rome: yet he must have been there, if we believe the Romanists. But since in doubtful things nothing is better than to follow probable conjecture, no one, who judges impartially, will be persuaded that what they affirm is true; for he could not surely have been omitted by Paul.
It is further to be noticed, that we hear nothing here of splendid and magnificent titles, by which we might conclude that men high in rank were Christians; for all those whom Paul mentions were the obscure and the ignoble at Rome. Narcissus, whom he here names, was, I think, the freeman of Claudius, a man notorious for many crimes and vices. The more wonderful was the goodness of God, which penetrated into that impure house, abounding in all kinds of wickedness; not that Narcissus himself had been converted to Christ, but it was a great thing that a house, which was like hell, should be visited by the grace of Christ. And as they, who lived under a foul pander, the most voracious robber, and the most corrupt of men, worshipped Christ in purity, there is no reason that servants should wait for their masters, but every one ought to follow Christ for himself. Yea, the exception added by Paul shows that the family was divided, so that the faithful were only a few.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(11) My kinsman.See the Note on Rom. 16:7.
Them that be of the household of Narcissus.A phrase similar to that which is translated, Them which are of Aristobulus household, above. Narcissus, too, is an historical name. There had been a famous Narcissus, a freed-man and favourite of Claudius, who had been put to death three or four years before this Epistle was written. His household would naturally pass into the hands of the emperor, though still keeping his name. In the case of Aristobulus, the transference would be effected by bequest, in that of Narcissus by confiscation. Many instances of both methods occur in the history and records of the time.
The interpretation here given, and the identification of Aristobulus and Narcissus with the historical bearers of those names, is some way short of certain, but may be said to have some degree of probability.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Household of Narcissus The emperor had a noted freedman, by the name of Narcissus, who died two or three years before this epistle was written. Yet it may be his household, or rather those which are in the Lord belonging to his household, who are here greeted.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Salute Herodion my kinsman.’
The name Herodion would appear to connect him in some way with one of the Herods, quite probably as a servant or slave. Whilst ‘my kinsman’ may simply indicate a fellow-Jew, it is noticeable that only some Jews are selected out to receive the title. It may thus signify that he was related to Paul in some way e.g. as a Benjamite. It may be through him that Paul knew of the household of Aristobulus.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
‘Salute those of Narcissus, who are in the Lord.’
The household of Narcissus was another prominent one in Rome if this refers to the powerful freedman of that name. These are slaves and freedmen from among his household who have become Christians. We do not know how Paul specifically knew of them.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Rom 16:11. In the Lord From this and the following verse we may observe, that when the whole family was converted, the Apostle writes to the church in such a house; when not, the salutation is directed to as many as were in the Lord in that fami
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Rom 16:11-12 . Narcissus is by Grotius, Michaelis, and Neander, held to be the powerful freedman of Claudius (Suet. Claud . 28; Tacit. Ann . xi. 29 ff., xii. 57). It is possible, although Narcissus, according to Tacitus, Ann . xiii. 1, was already dead (see Wieseler, Chronol . p. 371 ff.). A decision, however, cannot be arrived at; but, considering the frequency of the name, the suspicion of an anachronism (Lucht) is groundless.
The three women, Rom 16:12 , perhaps deaconesses, are otherwise unknown. Note how Persis is distinguished above the two previously named women; as also how delicately Paul has not added , after , as with the men’s names, Rom 16:8-9 , although he means his sentiment of love towards Persis. Observe, also, the distinction between ( present ) and . The particular circumstances of the case are unknown to us.
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
Ver. 11. My kinsman ] In the flesh, but more in the faith, that surest tie.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Rom 16:11 . . This agrees very well with the interpretation just given to . In the household of Herod’s grandson there might naturally be a Jew with a name of this type, whom Paul, for some cause or other, could single out for a special greeting. : the last words may suggest that, though only the Christians in this household have a greeting sent to them, there were other members of it with whom the Church had relations. The Narcissus meant is probably the notorious freedman of Claudius, who was put to death shortly after the accession of Nero (Tac., Ann. , xiii., 1), and therefore two or three years before this epistle was written. His slaves would probably pass into the emperor’s hands, and increase “Csar’s househould” as Narcissiani (Lightfoot, loc. cit .).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
Herodion. Greek masculine name.
Narcissus. Only here. Common Greek name (masc).
which = who.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Rom 16:11. , who are) Therefore a part of that family were heathens.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Reciprocal: Rom 16:7 – kinsmen Rom 16:21 – my kinsmen 1Co 1:30 – in 2Co 5:17 – be 3Jo 1:14 – Our
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
-12
Rom 16:11-12. Kinsman is used in the sense of a fellow-countryman. All. of the persons here are given “honorable mention” because they had labored much in the Lord.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Rom 16:11. Narcissus. A powerful freedman of Claudius bore this name, but died two or three years before this Epistle was written. Possibly the household of this person is meant.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Vv. 11, 12. Salute Herodion my countryman. Salute them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord. Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, which labored much in the Lord.
Here, again, may signify either countryman or kinsman (see Rom 16:7). The Roman writers Suetonius, Pliny, Tacitus, speak of a freedman of Claudius, of the name of Narcissus. Is it the house of this imperial favorite which is here referred to? He himself had been executed four years before the composition of our Epistle; but his house might still exist at Rome.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord. [This is probably Narcissus the rich freedman and favorite of Csar’s, whose household would therefore be compounded with Csar’s. (Comp. Phi 4:22) He died A. D. 54, or some three years before Paul wrote this Epistle. For references as to Narcissus, see Tac. Ann. 11:29, seq.; 12:57; 13:1; Suet. Claud. 28. “Bishop Lightfoot argues very plausibly that most of those here greeted by Paul were Nero’s servants, once in Greece, especially Philippi, and now called to Rome, whence they later sent back greetings to Philippi (Phi 4:22). An imperial burial-ground at Rome bears names like most of these, and the parties there buried lived in Paul’s day”–Moule.]