Bible Dictionary

Narcissus

People & Groups • New Testament

Narcissus was a Roman whose household included Christians greeted by Paul. His precise identity is uncertain.

Definition

Narcissus was a Roman whose household included people known as Christians. His precise identity is uncertain. Some have identified him with a powerful freedman and secretary or favorite of a Roman emperor, but this connection is not established. The name was common, especially among freedmen and slaves.

Biblical Usage

Paul sent greetings to the members of Narcissus’s household who were “in the Lord.” The wording may indicate that only the Christians in the household were addressed, while other members remained outside the Christian fellowship.

Historical Background

Some writers identify him with the wealthy and influential freedman Narcissus associated with Claudius, while others suggest a Narcissus connected with Nero. Because such property could be confiscated, his slaves might have entered the imperial household. These identifications remain uncertain.

Scripture References

Romans 16:11

Historical Bible Dictionaries

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Daffodil, a Roman whom Paul salutes (Rom. 16:11). He is supposed to have been the private secretary of the emperor Claudius. This is, however, quite uncertain.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

(stupidity), a dweller at Rome, (Romans 16:11) some members of whose household were known us Christians to St. Paul. Some have assumed the identity of this Narcissus with the secretary of the emperor Claudius; but this is quite uncertain.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)

nar-sis'-us (Narkissos): In Ro 16:11 Paul sends greetings to "them of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord." "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" (Denney).Narcissus is a common name, especially among freedmen and slaves. But, as in the case of Aristobulus, some famous person of this name must be meant. Conybeare and Howson mention two, one the wellknown favorite of Claudius, the other a favorite of Nero. The latter, who was put to death by Galba (Dio Cass. lxiv.3), they think to be the Narcissus meant here (Paul, chapter xix). On the other hand, Bishop Lightfoot (Phil, 175) holds that "the powerful freedman Narcissus, whose wealth was proverbial (Juv. Sat. xiv.329), whose influence with Claudius was unbounded, and who bore a chief part in the intrigues of this reign, alone satisfies this condition." Shortly after the accession of Nero, he had been put to death by Agrippina (Tac. Ann. xiii.1;. Dio Cass. lx.34) in 54 AD. As this occurred three or four years before the Epistle to the Romans was written, some think another Narcissus is meant. However, as was usual in such cases, his property would be confiscated, and his slaves, becoming the property of the emperor, would swell "Caesar's household" as Narcissiani.S. F. Hunter

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