Lexical Summary Narkissos: Narcissus Original Word: Νάρκισσος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Narcissus. A flower of the same name, from narke (stupefaction, as a "narcotic"); Narcissus, a Roman -- Narcissus. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom narké (numbness) Definition Narcissus, a Rom. NASB Translation Narcissus (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3488: ΝάρκισσοςΝάρκισσος, Ναρκίσσου, ὁ, Narcissus (i. e. 'daffodil'), a Roman mentioned in Romans 16:11, whom many interpreters without good reason suppose to be the noted freedman of the emperor Claudius (Suetonius, Claudius 28; Tacitus, ann. 11, 29f; 12, 57 etc.) (cf. Lightfoot on Philip., p. 175); in opposition to this opinion cf. Winers RWB, under the word; Rüetschi in Herzog x., 202f; (B. D., under the word). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Romans 16:11 records the single New Testament mention: “Greet those from the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord”. The greeting is directed not to Narcissus himself but to those of his οἶκος (household) who are believers, indicating that several members of this prominent household had come to faith in Jesus Christ. Historical Background In mid–first-century Rome the name Narcissus was common, but the most notable bearer was Tiberius Claudius Narcissus, an imperial freedman who served Emperor Claudius and was executed in A.D. 54. If Paul’s epistle was written just a few years later (about A.D. 57), the powerful estate of this deceased official would still have been intact, with hundreds of slaves and freedmen now under new ownership. Many scholars therefore regard the “household of Narcissus” as believers drawn from that circle of servants. While certainty is impossible, the identification fits well with Paul’s pattern of greeting slave believers by household rather than by owner (compare Romans 16:10 with “those of the household of Aristobulus”). Role within the Roman Church Households were natural centers for congregational life. Early believers gathered in homes for worship, teaching, and mutual care (Acts 2:46; Colossians 4:15). The greeting to Narcissus’ household shows that at least one such gathering point existed among the servants of a former imperial insider, illustrating both the breadth of the gospel’s reach and the social diversity of the Roman church—Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, men and women (Romans 1:14; Romans 16:3–16). Household Faith and the Pauline Mission Paul consistently treats households as mission fields (Acts 16:31–34; 1 Corinthians 1:16). The recognition of Narcissus’ household demonstrates his conviction that the gospel transforms social units as well as individuals. Those “in the Lord” within the household are acknowledged as full members of the body of Christ, affirming that social status neither hinders nor advances one’s standing before God (Galatians 3:28). Imperial Connections and the Advance of the Gospel Paul later writes from prison, “All the saints send you greetings, especially those of Caesar’s household” (Philippians 4:22). The greeting to Narcissus’ household foreshadows that development, revealing an early inroad of Christian witness into the orbit of the emperor. The advance of the gospel into elite Roman circles fulfills Jesus’ promise that the message would reach kings and governors (Matthew 10:18; Acts 9:15) while simultaneously uplifting the lowly members of those same circles. Theological Significance 1. The honor of greeting: By naming households rather than powerful patrons, Paul underscores that true honor lies in being “in the Lord,” not in social position (Romans 16:11; 1 Corinthians 1:26–31). Legacy for Ministry • Prayerful evangelism within workplaces and social structures echoes the outreach to Narcissus’ household. Summary Strong’s Greek 3488, Νάρκισσος, highlights a household in Rome whose members embraced Christ and received apostolic commendation. Their mention in Romans 16:11 testifies to the transforming power of the gospel, the strategic importance of household evangelism, and the Lord’s sovereign expansion of His church even within the structures of imperial power. Forms and Transliterations Ναρκισσου Ναρκίσσου Narkissou NarkíssouLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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