Lexical Summary Néreus: Nereus Original Word: Νηρεύς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nereus. Apparently from a derivative of the base of naus (meaning wet); Nereus, a Christian -- Nereus. see GREEK naus NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain origin, name of a mythological sea god Definition Nereus, a Christian NASB Translation Nereus (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3517: ΝηρεύςΝηρεύς ((cf. Vanicek, p. 1158)), Νηρευσεως, ὁ, Nereus, a Christian who lived at Rome: Romans 16:15 (where L marginal reading Νηρεαν). Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Romans 16:15 is the only place where Nereus is mentioned: “Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.” (Berean Standard Bible). Paul closes his letter by naming believers whose faithfulness had become known to him, asking the church in Rome to extend his personal greeting. Identity and Companions Nereus is listed alongside Philologus, Julia, an unnamed sister, and Olympas. The pairing of male and female names suggests a household gathering that functioned as one of Rome’s several house churches (compare Romans 16:5; Romans 16:14). The omission of a family surname or social title hints that these believers were probably freedmen or slaves. Nereus was a common name among imperial slaves, especially those connected to the household of Narcissus, the powerful freedman of Emperor Claudius (see Romans 16:11). If so, the group may have included Christians serving within the emperor’s administrative households (compare Philippians 4:22). Historical Context in First-Century Rome Paul’s letter reached Rome around A.D. 57. The Jewish believers who had been expelled under Claudius (Acts 18:2) were returning, bringing new tensions but also fresh gospel zeal. Multiple house churches met throughout the city; Paul greets at least five distinct gatherings in Romans 16. Nereus’s circle would have met for worship, instruction, and mutual aid, embodying the gospel’s power to unite men and women, slave and free (Galatians 3:28). Ministry Significance 1. Recognition of ordinary saints. Paul’s greeting shows that unnamed laborers (even one identified only as “his sister”) were highly valued. Ministry in Scripture is not limited to apostles or elders; every believer’s faithfulness matters. Theological Emphasis Paul’s greetings illustrate the doctrine of the communion of saints. Though Paul had not yet visited Rome, the Spirit knit him to believers he had never met, fostering affection and intercession. Scripture thus affirms: Patristic Traditions Second-century Roman lists mention martyrs “Nereus and Achilleus.” While firm identification with Paul’s Nereus cannot be proven, early Christians connected the name with steadfast witness during persecution. An inscription in the Catacomb of Domitilla commemorates these martyrs, indicating that the memory of a believer named Nereus endured in Rome long after Paul’s epistle. Lessons for Today • Serve faithfully where God places you; obscurity on earth does not diminish honor in heaven. Forms and Transliterations Νηρεα Νηρέα Nerea Neréa Nērea NēréaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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