JUNIA: OUTSTANDING APOSTLE

PREFACE: Investigating Junia’s right to exist as a woman in the Biblical text got all my “Bible nerd” juices flowing…and I may have dug out every commentary I have on Romans just so I could verify what I learned from online resources. I knew Junia was a controversial figure, but I didn’t know the full story about WHY she became controversial. But before we dive into all that, let’s talk about Junia herself.

Junia is mentioned only once by this name in the New Testament in Paul’s letter to the Romans. It’s because of this, we don’t get to meet her in quite the same way we’ve met other valiant women in this series—but the good news is we do know more than just her name.  

Paul's letters are cherished by the people and churches he writes to; they are often read aloud at gatherings and sometimes passed around between local congregations; and they are treasured because they are believed to be authoritative, instructive, and inspired. And, in typical first-century fashion, Paul closes his letters with greetings to his old friends, introductions to new ones, and requests to pray for others.

At the end of Romans, Paul includes this introduction:

“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was."

Romans 16:7 (NIV)

“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.”

Romans 16:7 (NRSV)

🖐️ 5 FACTS ABOUT JUNIA

In this one verse, we learn FIVE important facts about Junia:

1. She is an apostle
2. She is Jewish
3. She was a follower of Christ before Paul was
4. She has been in prison with Paul
5. She is a woman (we’ll talk more about this below)

1.    JUNIA IS AN APOSTLE

Hidden right here in plain sight is the ONLY reference to a female apostle in the New Testament. The word apostolos is the exact same word that is used to describe the Twelve apostles of Jesus in the Gospels. It’s the same exact word that Paul later applies to himself—with lots of explanations why that’s okay. Apostolos is rarely used in the New Testament to refer to anyone other than the Twelve and Paul, but when it is, it’s notable. It’s used with Barnabas, Timothy, and Silvanus—all familiar names. AND in Romans 16:7, Apostolos is used regarding a man named Andronicus and a woman named Junia.

2.    JUNIA IS JEWISH

Paul refers to Andronicus and Junia as “my kinsmen” (KJV). The word translated “kinsmen” doesn’t indicate blood relations. It simply means they were “countrymen” (NKJV) or “fellow Jews” (NIV).

3. JUNIA’S FAITH IN CHRIST PRE-DATES PAUL’S

In passing, Paul mentions Junia and Andronicus have been followers of Christ longer than he has; thereby, adding credibility to their witness. And since Paul converts to The Way within three years of the Resurrection, some suspect they may have started following Jesus during His ministry. (Interesting hypothesis about this below.)

4. JUNIA IS A FELLOW-PRISONER WITH PAUL

In his letters, Paul sometimes refers to others as his "fellow prisoner" or "fellow worker/prisoner" when he’s writing about someone who is either literally imprisoned with him or who shares in his sufferings and trials for the sake of the gospel. Paul calls Aristarchus (Colossians 4:10) and Epaphras (Philemon 1:23) “fellow prisoners” — and he uses the same word to refer to Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7).

5. JUNIA IS A WOMAN

Duh! It goes without saying, right? And yet. Believe it or not, this has been a whole thing. I’m just going to hit the highlights for you so this email actually has an end. If what I share here interests you, be sure to check out the additional resources linked below.

SIDENOTE: Before we dive into this, you’ll need this tidbit of New Testament trivia: “Nestle” is THE publisher of technical Greek New Testaments used in academic research and Bible translations. The “Novum Testamentum” is created from the oldest and best manuscripts, reviewed by a committee of New Testament and Greek scholars, and it’s published with a commentary handbook that notes any phrases or words (or letters!) the committee can’t agree on.

NOW, HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED WITH "JUNIA"

For the first twelve centuries after Christ, everyone agreed Junia was a female name and church fathers wrote about her as a woman apostle. In the 1200s, however, an archbishop and theologian living in Rome suggested the name should be translated as “Junias” (masculine) not “Junia” (feminine)—even though there were NO records of any such name in the Roman Empire but there were 250+ inscriptions of the name Junia!

Fast forward to 1927, and something happened. In their 13^th edition of Novum Testamentum, Nestle (the publisher I mentioned above) changed how the accent was written on Junia’s name and just like that, the woman apostle became the man apostle. Feminist Theologian Elizabeth A. Castelli calls this a “sex-change-by-translation” which makes me laugh and cry at the same time.  😂😭

I mean, what the heck?! Why go to so much trouble to force this change?

HERE'S WHY I CARE

When I was in college (back in the late 80s), I took a class on Romans WHILE I was taking Advanced New Testament Greek AND I was the Greek Tutor. I actually have a physical copy of the Greek New Testament along with Metzger’s Textual Commentary. So, I had to check it out for myself.

I pulled out every commentary I have on Romans (plus other resources not pictured), and they were equally divided: half Junia and half Junias. Not only that, but my all-time favorite Bible Dictionary didn’t have her listed at all (or him, for that matter). And guess what? When I was in college and seminary, the Bible translations and the commentaries we used translated Junia as Junias.

I never learned about Junia until many years later. Turns out, the Greek New Testament version I had and the Textual Commentary were printed during the "Junias" timeframe. 😑

WHY FIX SOMETHING THAT'S NOT BROKEN?

A more recent edition of Metzger's Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament shines a light on why the name was changed to Junias (highlights are mine to show you how they changed the accent thereby changing the name--you don't have to know Greek to see the two different markings above the "a" in the name),

Above Quote from Waldemar Kowalski

(See "Additional Resources" below)

In other words, they changed the accent because they couldn't accept that the Apostle Paul would give a shout-out to a WOMAN in the same role that he shared—even though that's exactly what he did. I think it's ridiculous that a person would work so hard to prohibit someone from imagining a woman in a leadership role in the early church.

I'm so glad we're back to the original Greek, and women all over the world are once again learning about the outstanding apostle Junia.

BONUS: WHAT WAS HER GIVEN NAME?

Junia is a Greek name; however, Paul clearly states that Junia and Andronicus are his kin—which means, they are Jewish. This has led scholars to ask: What is Junia's name in Aramaic/Hebrew? Want to take a guess?

The answer is: JOANNA. And guess what?! GET READY…

There IS a woman named Joanna mentioned more than once in the Gospels. She is initially introduced with Mary of Magdala in the short list of women who are healed by Jesus and financially support his ministry out of their own wealth.

Joanna is well-off and married to Chuza, the estate agent for Herod Antipas, Ruler of Galilee..

Since it was common for Jews to use their given names in the Jewish community and their Greek names in business, it is likely that Chuza would have a Greek name as well. Is it possible that Chuza and Andronicus are the same man? I think so, and I’m not the only one. See below under "Additional Resources" for a blog post that explores this theory and documents the research in detail. So cool!

If this is a correct assumption, and Junia is Joanna, then Junia fits the criteria of apostle because she is someone who not only followed Jesus before his crucifixion, but also is one of the first witnesses to the Resurrection. She is listed along with a few other women who visit the tomb and find it empty. And she is commissioned to tell Jesus' disciples that He is risen!

No matter how you cut it, Junia is an outstanding apostle!

You can read about Junia in Romans 16:7 and about Joanna in Luke 8:3 and Luke 24:10. 

Additional Resources:

• Bible Hub Greek Interlinear & Strong's Concordance

• "Chuza and Joanna as Andronicus and Junia" by Richard Fellows on Paul and Co-Workers Blog (2020).

• "The Role of Women in Ministry: Is There a Disconnect between Pauline Practice and Pauline Instruction?" by Waldemar Kowalski. Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies, Volume 20, Number 2. (2018). (n.p.): Wipf & Stock Publishers. Pages 158-162. (PDF)

• "Who Was Junia?" on The Junia Project (Website)

• All the Women of the Bible by Edith Deen (New York: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1955), p. 168.

• "Junia" Women’s Bible Commentary, 3rd Edition. Edited by Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe, and Jacqueline E. Lapsley. (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2012), p. 543.

Photo Credits:

• Photo of woman licensed by Laura Zielke
• Photo of Romans commentaries & other resources by Laura Zielke

Disclosure of Material Connection:

Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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