Household
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Bible Concordance
Household (222 Occurrences)

Matthew 10:12 As you enter into the household, greet it. (WEB)

Matthew 10:13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come on it, but if it isn't worthy, let your peace return to you. (WEB)

Matthew 10:25 It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household! (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 10:36 A man's foes will be those of his own household. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Matthew 12:25 And Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated, and no city or house having been divided against itself, doth stand, (See NIV)

Matthew 13:52 He said to them, "Therefore, every scribe who has been made a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who is a householder, who brings out of his treasure new and old things." (Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Matthew 13:57 and they were stumbled at him. And Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and in his own house:' (See NAS)

Matthew 20:1 "For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 20:11 When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household, (WEB ASV YLT RSV)

Matthew 21:33 "Hear another parable. There was a man who was a master of a household, who planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a tower, leased it out to farmers, and went into another country. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Matthew 24:45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Mark 6:4 And Jesus said to them -- 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his kindred, and in his own house;' (See NAS)

Luke 8:3 And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's chief house-servant, and Susanna and a number of others, who gave him of their wealth for his needs. (See NIV)

Luke 11:17 And he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, 'Every kingdom having been divided against itself is desolated; and house against house doth fall; (See RSV)

Luke 12:42 The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the right times? (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 12:52 for there shall be henceforth five in one house divided -- three against two, and two against three; (See NAS)

John 4:53 Then the father recollected that that was the time at which Jesus had said to him, "Your son has recovered," and he and his whole household became believers. (WEY NAS RSV NIV)

John 19:27 afterward he saith to the disciple, 'Lo, thy mother;' and from that hour the disciple took her to his own 'home'. (See NAS)

Acts 7:10 and delivered him from all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and all the royal household. (WEY NAS RSV)

Acts 10:2 He was religious and God-fearing--and so was every member of his household. He was also liberal in his charities to the people, and continually offered prayer to God. (WEY NAS RSV)

Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually. (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Acts 11:14 who shall speak sayings by which thou shalt be saved, thou and all thy house. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 16:15 When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay." So she persuaded us. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 16:31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Acts 16:32 and they spake to him the word of the Lord, and to all those in his household; (YLT)

Acts 16:33 He took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes, and was immediately baptized, he and all his household. (WEB WEY NAS)

Acts 16:34 He brought them up into his house, and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, with all his household, having believed in God. (WEB WEY YLT NAS RSV)

Acts 18:8 And Crispus, the Warden of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, and so did all his household; and from time to time many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and received baptism. (WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 16:10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Romans 16:11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been reported to me concerning you, my brothers, by those who are from Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you. (WEB ASV NIV)

1 Corinthians 1:16 (I also baptized the household of Stephanas; besides them, I don't know whether I baptized any other.) (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

1 Corinthians 16:15 And I beseech you, brethren--you know the household of Stephanas, how they were the earliest Greek converts to Christ, and have devoted themselves to the service of God's people-- (WEY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Galatians 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Ephesians 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, (WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Philippians 4:22 All the saints greet you, especially those who are of Caesar's household. (WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 3:4 but ruling his own household wisely and well, with children kept under control with true dignity. (WEY NAS RSV)

1 Timothy 3:5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), (YLT NAS)

1 Timothy 3:12 A deacon must be true to his one wife, and rule his children and his own household wisely and well. (WEY NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 3:15 But, for fear I may be hindered, I now write, so that you may have rules to guide you in dealing with God's household. For this is what the Church of the ever-living God is, and it is the pillar and foundation-stone of the truth. (WEY NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 5:8 But if anyone doesn't provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever. (WEB ASV YLT NAS)

1 Timothy 5:14 I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for reviling. (WEB ASV RSV)

2 Timothy 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus; for many a time he cheered me and he was not ashamed of my chain. (WEY RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 4:19 Salute Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. (KJV WEY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, having been divinely warned concerning the things not yet seen, having feared, did prepare an ark to the salvation of his house, through which he did condemn the world, and of the righteousness according to faith he became heir. (See NAS RSV)

1 Peter 2:18 Household servants, be submissive to your masters, and show them the utmost respect--not only if they are kind and thoughtful, but also if they are unreasonable. (WEY)

1 Peter 4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God. If it begins first with us, what will happen to those who don't obey the Good News of God? (WEB NAS RSV)

Genesis 7:1 Yahweh said to Noah, "Come with all of your household into the ship, for I have seen your righteousness before me in this generation. (WEB NAS RSV)

Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD said unto Abram: 'Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee. (See NIV)

Genesis 12:17 And the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai Abram's wife. (See NIV)

Genesis 14:14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he led forth his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. (See NIV)

Genesis 15:3 And Abram said: 'Behold, to me Thou hast given no seed, and, lo, one born in my house is to be mine heir.' (See NIV)

Genesis 17:12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every male throughout your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any foreigner, that is not of thy seed. (See NIV)

Genesis 17:13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised; and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. (See NIV)

Genesis 17:23 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 17:27 And all the men of his house, those born in the house, and those bought with money of a foreigner, were circumcised with him. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 18:19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Yahweh may bring on Abraham that which he has spoken of him." (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 20:13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her: This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me; at every place whither we shall come, say of me: He is my brother.' (See NIV)

Genesis 20:18 For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 24:2 And Abraham said unto his servant, the elder of his house, that ruled over all that he had: 'Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 24:7 The LORD, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house, and from the land of my nativity, and who spoke unto me, and who swore unto me, saying: Unto thy seed will I give this land; He will send His angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife for my son from thence. (See NIV)

Genesis 24:28 And the damsel ran, and told her mother's house according to these words. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 26:14 He had possessions of flocks, possessions of herds, and a great household. The Philistines envied him. (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV)

Genesis 30:30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it hath increased abundantly; and the LORD hath blessed thee whithersoever I turned. And now when shall I provide for mine own house also?' (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:19 Now Laban had gone to see to the cutting of the wool of his sheep; so Rachel secretly took the images of the gods of her father's house. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:34 Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel's saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt about all the tent, but didn't find them. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:35 She said to her father, "Don't let my lord be angry that I can't rise up before you; for the manner of women is on me." He searched, but didn't find the teraphim. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:37 Now that you have felt around in all my stuff, what have you found of all your household stuff? Set it here before my relatives and your relatives, that they may judge between us two. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 31:41 These twenty years have I been in thy house: I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy flock; and thou hast changed my wages ten times. (See NIV)

Genesis 34:19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daughter. And he was honoured above all the house of his father. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: 'Ye have troubled me, to make me odious unto the inhabitants of the land, even unto the Canaanites and the Perizzites; and, I being few in number, they will gather themselves together against me and smite me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.' (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 35:2 Then Jacob said to his household, and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, change your garments. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 36:6 Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, with his livestock, all his animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. (WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 39:4 And Joseph found favour in his sight, and he ministered unto him. And he appointed him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. (See NIV)

Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he appointed him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field. (See NIV)

Genesis 39:11 And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men of the house there within, (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 39:14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying: 'See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: 'for God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.' (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 45:2 And he wept aloud; and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt. (See NAS NIV)

Genesis 45:11 There I will nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have."' (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 46:31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house: 'I will go up, and tell Pharaoh, and will say unto him: My brethren, and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 47:12 Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all of his father's household, with bread, according to their families. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 50:4 And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke unto the house of Pharaoh, saying: 'If now I have found favour in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying: (See NAS RSV)

Genesis 50:7 And Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, (See NAS RSV)

Genesis 50:8 and all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house; only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. (See NAS RSV NIV)

Genesis 50:22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house; and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. (See NAS)

Exodus 1:1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Exodus 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying,'On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household; (WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 12:4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Exodus 12:48 And if a man from another country is living with you, and has a desire to keep the Passover to the Lord, let all the males of his family undergo circumcision, and then let him come near and keep it; for he will then be as one of your people; but no one without circumcision may keep it. (See NIV)

Exodus 23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. (See NIV)

Leviticus 16:6 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. (See NAS NIV)

Leviticus 16:11 And Aaron shall present the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself. (See NAS NIV)

Leviticus 16:17 There shall be no one in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. (WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS NAS NIV)

Leviticus 22:11 But if a priest buy any soul, the purchase of his money, he may eat of it; and such as are born in his house, they may eat of his bread. (See NIV)

Numbers 1:4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe, every one head of his fathers' house. (See NAS)

Numbers 1:44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men; they were each one for his fathers' house. (See NAS)

Numbers 2:34 Thus did the children of Israel: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, each one according to its families, and according to its fathers' houses. (See NAS)

Numbers 12:7 My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house; (See NAS)

Continued...

Thesaurus
Onesiphorus (2 Occurrences)
... He served him in many things, and had oft refreshed him. Paul expresses a warm interest
in him and his household (2 Timothy 1:16-18; 4:19). Int. ...
/o/onesiphorus.htm - 11k

Caesar's (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD. ... It is necessary to ask, in the
first place, What is meant by the words "Caesar's household"? ...
/c/caesar's.htm - 18k

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)
... 10:5; 2 Kings 15:5). Its importance is seen from the fact that after Azariah was
smitten with leprosy, Jotham his heir "was over the household, judging the ...
/e/eliakim.htm - 15k

Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim
the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and ...
/e/eli'akim.htm - 9k

Narcissus (2 Occurrences)
... nar-sis'-us (Narkissos): In Romans 16:11 Paul sends greetings to "them of the household
of Narcissus, that are in the Lord." "The last words may suggest that ...
/n/narcissus.htm - 9k

Joah (10 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 18:18 When they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the
son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebnah the scribe, and Joah ...
/j/joah.htm - 11k

Greet (46 Occurrences)
... (WEB NAS NIV). Matthew 10:12 As you enter into the household, greet it. (WEB NAS
NIV). ... Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. (WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV) ...
/g/greet.htm - 19k

Bore (221 Occurrences)
... According to primitive thinking near the door dwelt the household gods whose function
it was to guard the house and its occupants, eg against the entry of ...
/b/bore.htm - 38k

Aristobulus (1 Occurrence)
... A Roman mentioned in Paul's Epistle to the Romans (16:10), whose "household" is
saluated. Int. ... Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. ...
/a/aristobulus.htm - 9k

Administrator (8 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 10:5 He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders
also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are ...
/a/administrator.htm - 9k

Greek
3610. oiketes -- a household (of servants)
... a household (of servants). Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oiketes
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-ket'-ace) Short Definition: a household servant ...
/greek/3610.htm - 6k

3623. oikonomos -- the manager of a household
... the manager of a household. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oikonomos
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kon-om'-os) Short Definition: a steward Definition ...
/greek/3623.htm - 7k

3615. oikiakos -- belonging to the household
... belonging to the household. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: oikiakos
Phonetic Spelling: (oy-kee-ak-os') Short Definition: one of a family Definition ...
/greek/3615.htm - 6k

3832. panoikei -- with all the household
... with all the household. Part of Speech: Adverb Transliteration: panoikei Phonetic
Spelling: (pan-oy-kee') Short Definition: with one's whole household or family ...
/greek/3832.htm - 6k

3616. oikodespoteo -- to rule a household
... to rule a household. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oikodespoteo Phonetic
Spelling: (oy-kod-es-pot-eh'-o) Short Definition: I manage a household ...
/greek/3616.htm - 6k

3610a. oiketeia -- a household (of servants)
... << 3610, 3610a. oiketeia. 3610b >>. a household (of servants). Transliteration:
oiketeia Short Definition: household. Word Origin from ...
/greek/3610a.htm - 5k

3614. oikia -- a house, dwelling
... a house, dwelling. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: oikia Phonetic
Spelling: (oy-kee'-ah) Short Definition: a house, household Definition: a house ...
/greek/3614.htm - 6k

3624. oikos -- a house, a dwelling
... a house, a dwelling. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oikos Phonetic
Spelling: (oy'-kos) Short Definition: a house, household Definition: (a) a ...
/greek/3624.htm - 6k

3617. oikodespotes -- the master of a house
... Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration: oikodespotes Phonetic Spelling:
(oy-kod-es-pot'-ace) Short Definition: a head of a household Definition: a ...
/greek/3617.htm - 6k

3609b. oikeios -- in or of the house
... in or of the house. Transliteration: oikeios Short Definition: household. Word Origin
from oikos Definition in or of the house NASB Word Usage household (3). ...
/greek/3609b.htm - 5k

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD

hous'-hold (hoi ek tes Kaisaros oikias, "they that are of Caesar's household," Philippians 4:22): These words occur in the epistle which Paul wrote from Rome near the end of his first imprisonment there, probably in the end of 61 A.D., to the church in Philippi. They give us most interesting information in regard to the progress made in the propagation of the gospel in Rome.

It is necessary to ask, in the first place, What is meant by the words "Caesar's household"? and when the meaning of that phrase is known, then it is needful to discuss the question which rises at once, In what way did the gospel enter Caesar's household? How is it that the gospel, which at the first chiefly advanced among the poorer classes in the Empire, made its way at a bound into the very palace of the Caesars?

1. What Exactly Was Caesar's Household?:

"Caesar's household" meant the whole of the persons, slaves and freemen alike, composing the establishment of the emperor in his palace on the Palatine Hill at Rome. The slaves of the imperial household formed a host in themselves. At a time when many a private citizen in Rome owned several hundreds of slaves, it need not surprise anyone to know that there was a vastly larger number of such persons in the palace of the emperor. This was a period when the city of Rome and the court of the Caesars swarmed with Asiatics, many of whom were Jews, and many of them would be in slavery, or in employment, in the imperial court. It cannot be forgotten that Poppea, Nero's shameless consort, was a proselyte to Judaism and that she continued to advocate successfully the cause of the Jews before the emperor as occasion arose.

These persons in the emperor's palace would be employed in every conceivable capacity as household servants, cooks, bathmen, gardeners, grooms, kennel-keepers, porters, doorkeepers, messengers, secretaries, amanuenses, teachers, librarians, architects, carpenters, shoemakers, and in all other forms of service. Of course they were not all slaves: there was a very large number of freemen. The domus or familia Caesaris (represented by the Greek oikia Kaisaros) included the whole of the imperial household, the meanest slaves as well as the most powerful courtiers. On the character and constitution of this household we happen to possess more information than perhaps on any other department of social life in Rome. "In Rome itself, if we may judge by these inscriptions, the domus Augusta must have formed no inconsiderable fraction of the whole population; but it comprised likewise all persons in the emperor's service, whether slaves or freemen, in Italy and even in the provinces" (Lightfoot, Commentary on Phil, 171). In the list of offices filled by members of the imperial household were also such functions as those of keepers of the wardrobe or of the plate-chest; even the "tasters" formed a separate class of servants under a chief of their own. To belong to Caesar's household would secure even to the lowest grade of slaves substantial privileges and immunities, and would give a certain social importance, which made this position a valued one. An office in the emperor's household, however mean, was thought of so highly, that in the monumental inscriptions such a fact is recorded with scrupulous care.

2. How Did the Gospel Enter into Caesar's Household?:

The next inquiry is, How did the gospel win its way into Caesar's household? And, first, there is no need at all to suppose that the gospel was unknown, even in the palace, previous to the arrival of Paul in Rome.

3. The Gospel Known There before Paul's Arrival:

For in that numerous household of the emperor there would be Jews, perhaps many of them; and all the Jews were at that time filled with Messianic hopes, and thus were ready to listen to the gospel. As soon therefore as the gospel entered Rome, as soon as it was proclaimed in the many synagogues there, these members of Caesar's household could not fail, equally with the other members of the synagogue, to hear the story of Jesus Christ and of His cross and resurrection. A fact such as this, that the gospel was known in Rome previous to Paul's arrival there, is quite sufficient to account for the other fact, that the gospel was known in Caesar's palace.

4. The Gospel Advances in the Palace:

But the propagation of the gospel received a great impetus and help forward, when Paul arrived in the city. For although he was a "bound prisoner," his wrist fastened by an iron chain, day and night, to the soldier who guarded him, he was able to "preach the kingdom of God and to teach those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him" (Acts 28:31 the King James Version). And in this way the gospel would again reach members of the emperor's household. Immediately after his arrival in Rome, Paul had put himself in communication with "the chief of the Jews"-probably the rulers of the synagogues in Rome-and many of them came to him in his lodging and conferred with him. Those chief men of the Jews expressed their great desire to hear from him what his thoughts were in regard to the hope of Israel (Acts 28:22); and naturally all the Jews in Rome would be equally desirous to gain this information from a man of the outstanding position and character of Paul. The Jewish community in Rome had for years past been permeated with the hope of the coming of the Messiah; indeed successive rumors of false Christs had kept them in a fever of excitement, which, on one occasion at least, had broken out in tumult, so strong was their hope of His speedy appearing. Thus it would come about, as a matter of course, that the gospel would reach all the Jews in Rome, and from this knowledge of Jesus, whom Paul proclaimed, the Jews who were in the service of the emperor could not possibly be excluded.

5. The Gospel Carried by Paul's Soldier-Guard:

But besides this, the fact that Paul was in daily contact and intercourse with the soldiers who guarded him could not fail to lead to the introduction of the gospel into Gospel the regiment. And as part of the Praetorian Guard was quartered in buildings on the Palatine Hill, attached to the emperor's palace there, there was thus one other channel through which the gospel would be made known to some of those who resided in the palace of Caesar. It is thus seen that there is nothing at all surprising in the fact that there were Christians in Caesar's household.

6. Lightfoot's Conjecture:

Some of Lightfoot's suggestions and conjectures on this subject are exceedingly interesting. He reviews the names of the persons to whom Paul sends greeting in Romans 16 and compares them with the names of persons who lived at that time, and which have been found in monumental inscriptions on the columbaria or places of sepulture exhumed on the Appian Way. Many of the occupants of those columbaria were freedmen or slaves of the emperors, and were contemporaries of Paul. The result of Lightfoot's review of the names is that he claims to have established a fair presumption that among the salutations in Romans 16 some members at least of the imperial household are included (Phil, 177).

In the household of the emperor there were necessarily many persons of high rank. Perhaps we may find a hint that the gospel had been embraced by some in the higher grades of society, in such strange facts as the execution of Titus Flavius Clemens, a man of consular rank and cousin to the emperor, and also in the fact that Flavia Domitilla, the wife of Flavius Clemens, was banished by Domitian, notwithstanding her near relationship to him, for she was the emperor's niece. Her daughter Portia also shared in the same punishment of exile. The charges brought against all three were atheism and inclination to Jewish customs: surely such charges were sufficiently vague and even self-contradictory. The opinion has been suggested that probably these three persons in the inner circle of the emperor's kinsmen were Christians.

7. Aristobulus and Narcissus:

Ramsay (St. Paul the Traveler, etc., 353), speaking of Lightfoot's conjectures, already referred to, writes, "In all probability he is right in thinking that all the slaves of Aristobulus (son of Herod the Great) and of Narcissus (Claudius' favorite freedman) had passed into the imperial household, and that members of their two families are saluted as Christians by Paul (Romans 16:10)."

The fact of greatest interest in the whole subject is, that in society so profligate and corrupt as the court of Nero, there were "saints," Christian men whose garments were clean and who kept themselves unspotted from the world amid surroundings so dreadful and in temptation so unceasing; that the gospel was known and obeyed and loved, and that hearts and lives were loyal to Christ even in the palace of Nero Caesar.

John Rutherfurd

HOUSEHOLD

hous'-hold: Three words are usually found in the Bible where the family is indicated. These three are the Hebrew word bayith and the Greek words oikia and oikos. The unit of the national life of Israel, from the very beginning, was found in the family. In the old patriarchal days each family was complete within itself, the oldest living sire being the unquestioned head of the whole, possessed of almost arbitrary powers. The house and the household are practically synonymous. God had called Abraham "that he might command his children and household after him" (Genesis 18:19). The Passover-lamb was to be eaten by the "household" (Exodus 12:3). The "households" of the rebels in the camp of Israel shared their doom (Numbers 16:31-33 Deuteronomy 11:6). David's household shares his humiliation (2 Samuel 15:16); the children everywhere in the Old Testament are the bearers of the sins of the fathers. Human life is not a conglomerate of individuals; the family is its center and unit.

Nor is it different in the New Testament. The curse and the blessing of the apostles are to abide on a house, according to its attitude (Matthew 10:13). A divided house falls (Mark 3:25). The household believes with the head thereof (John 4:53 Acts 16:15, 34). Thus the households became the nuclei for the early life of the church, e.g. the house of Prisca and Aquila at Rome (Romans 16:5), of Stephanas (1 Corinthians 16:15), of Onesiphorus (2 Timothy 1:16), etc. No wonder that the early church made so much of the family life. And in the midst of all our modern, rampant individualism, the family is still the throbbing heart of the church as well as of the nation.

Henry E. Dosker

HOUSEHOLD, CAESAR'S

See CAESAR'S HOUSEHOLD.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) Those who dwell under the same roof and compose a family.

2. (n.) A line of ancestry; a race or house.

3. (a.) Belonging to the house and family; domestic; as, household furniture; household affairs.

Strong's Hebrew
8655. teraphim -- (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol
... << 8654, 8655. teraphim. 8656 >>. (a kind of idol) perhaps household idol.
Transliteration: teraphim Phonetic Spelling: (ter-aw-feme') Short Definition: idols. ...
/hebrew/8655.htm - 6k

5657. abuddah -- service
... << 5656, 5657. abuddah. 5658 >>. service. Transliteration: abuddah Phonetic Spelling:
(ab-ood-daw') Short Definition: household. ... household, store of servants. ...
/hebrew/5657.htm - 6k

1004. bayith -- a house
... 1), hall (1), hangings (1), harem* (5), holders (7), home (33), homeborn* (2), homes
(2), house (1534), house and the houses (2), household (125), household ...
/hebrew/1004.htm - 7k

8198. shiphchah -- maid, maidservant
... Feminine from an unused root meaning to spread out (as a family; see mishpachah);
a female slave (as a member of the household) -- (bond-, hand-)maid(-en ...
/hebrew/8198.htm - 6k

Subtopics

Household

Related Terms

Caesar's (10 Occurrences)

Eliakim (14 Occurrences)

Eli'akim (12 Occurrences)

Narcissus (2 Occurrences)

Joah (10 Occurrences)

Greet (46 Occurrences)

Bore (221 Occurrences)

Aristobulus (1 Occurrence)

Administrator (8 Occurrences)

Members (54 Occurrences)

Specially (26 Occurrences)

Recorder (10 Occurrences)

Shebna (9 Occurrences)

Steward (23 Occurrences)

Ziba (13 Occurrences)

Salute (48 Occurrences)

Fathers'

Greetings (48 Occurrences)

Especially (23 Occurrences)

Believer (15 Occurrences)

Chronicler (7 Occurrences)

Chloe (1 Occurrence)

Ahishar (1 Occurrence)

Secretary (34 Occurrences)

Tobiah (14 Occurrences)

Scribe (55 Occurrences)

Mephibosheth (13 Occurrences)

Palace (194 Occurrences)

Nabal (18 Occurrences)

Royal (154 Occurrences)

Provide (74 Occurrences)

Baptized (52 Occurrences)

Asaph (47 Occurrences)

Vineyard (69 Occurrences)

Nourished (29 Occurrences)

Jehoiachin (20 Occurrences)

Landowner (4 Occurrences)

Graven (61 Occurrences)

Wisely (60 Occurrences)

Intelligent (47 Occurrences)

Rachel (42 Occurrences)

Rations (3 Occurrences)

Deluge (17 Occurrences)

Devout (13 Occurrences)

Domestic (5 Occurrences)

Due (93 Occurrences)

Manage (6 Occurrences)

Manager (10 Occurrences)

Prudent (40 Occurrences)

Pot (46 Occurrences)

Bondman (108 Occurrences)

Concubine (21 Occurrences)

Continually (180 Occurrences)

Amon (20 Occurrences)

Ampliatus (1 Occurrence)

Apphia (1 Occurrence)

Amoz (14 Occurrences)

Sustenance (11 Occurrences)

Stephanas (3 Occurrences)

Senior (3 Occurrences)

Steph'anas (3 Occurrences)

Sensible (15 Occurrences)

Sustained (20 Occurrences)

Home (270 Occurrences)

Home (270 Occurrences)

Season (101 Occurrences)

Subapostolic

Sub-apostolic

Fellows (30 Occurrences)

Philippi (8 Occurrences)

Herodion (1 Occurrence)

Stuff (49 Occurrences)

Maidens (40 Occurrences)

Passover (81 Occurrences)

Master (346 Occurrences)

Provisions (41 Occurrences)

Relationships (1 Occurrence)

Relatives (132 Occurrences)

Housed
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