What does Romans 16:11 teach about spiritual family and kinship? The Verse “Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.” (Romans 16:11) Why This Single Sentence Matters • Paul’s greetings are not throw-away lines; every word is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). • The Spirit highlights two kinds of kinship—blood (“my kinsman”) and faith (“in the Lord”). • Both forms of family relationship function side-by-side in the church. A Snapshot of First-Century Kinship • “Kinsman” (syngenēs) can mean a literal relative; Paul was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin (Romans 11:1). • Households (oikos) included relatives, servants, employees—an extended family unit under one roof. • By greeting only those “in the Lord” within Narcissus’ household, Paul distinguishes spiritual ties from mere co-residence. Blood Family Still Matters • Paul never dismisses natural family: “Honor your father and mother” remains (Ephesians 6:1-3). • Jesus’ genealogy (Matthew 1) confirms God works through literal family lines. • Salvation through Christ, however, may divide earthly households (Luke 12:51-53), so Paul honors relatives who share faith—Herodion is both cousin and brother in Christ. The Larger Household of Faith • Faith establishes a new, eternal family: – “So in Christ we who are many are one body” (Romans 12:5). – “You are…members of God’s household” (Ephesians 2:19). – “Whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). • Identifying believers “in the Lord” inside Narcissus’ home underlines that spiritual kinship can coexist with unbelievers in the same physical house. • Galatians 6:10 calls this the “household of faith,” a family that transcends ethnicity, status, and bloodline. What Romans 16:11 Teaches About Spiritual Family • Spiritual kinship is real, literal, and recognized by name. • Blood relatives who trust Christ become doubly dear—flesh and spirit connected. • Believers living under the same roof as unbelievers still share a deeper unity with each other than with non-believing relatives or co-workers. • The local church should mirror this mix: natural families intertwined with spiritual siblings, all greeted warmly. Practical Implications Today • Acknowledge and honor Christian relatives; celebrate the grace that has reached your own family line. • Seek out fellow believers in your workplace, school, or neighborhood “household” and affirm that bond. • Open your home so it resembles Narcissus’—a place where at least some are “in the Lord,” creating a gospel witness to the rest. • Use personal greetings and names—following Paul’s example—to strengthen family ties in Christ. |
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