Gospel Penetration: Truth Spreading Underground

Maclaren observes a profound paradox in the salutations to the households of Aristobulus and Narcissus—likely wealthy Romans connected to Herod's line and the Imperial court. Only sections of these households became Christian; notably, the masters themselves remained outside the faith. Yet this apparent limitation reveals Christianity's extraordinary penetrating power. Consider Aristobulus: grandson of the wicked Herod, brother of Agrippa, steeped in "foul Herodian blood" and Roman vices.…