Was Junia Really the First Woman Apostle?

[williamallen]

Amen. Should have been played at the SBC convention.

[robmc]

"text without a context is a pretext for a proof text" ~Dr Don Carson

[YourLifeWillForeverBeALie]

These are amazing and high quality videos, amazing work!

[johnmarshk]

Amen and the clear text always over rule the unclear text.

[Psawyer]

Well I don’t blame people for misunderstanding that small minor thing, since Junia sounds like a female name

[maxpayne]

I didn’t even this was a thing. First time I have heard of this.

[janicejoeysjournal]

Not to mention, a “fellow” prisoner, sounds like it was coming from a masculine interpretation, including the word kinsman.

[budjeansonne]

Additionally, Paul stated that Andronicus and Junias were with him in prison. It is unlikely that a woman would be in prison with men. More than likely Junias was a man.

[krakoosh]

I think the word, kinsmen, says it all. Like in the phrase, kinsman redeemer, it refers to a man.

[ineffableartistsmusic]

Maybe you should read the book he mentioned? I got a half way through....pretty extensively shows how his video has almost no info in comparison and shows the most shallow tid bit of a night light upon the subject. The book is like stadium lights...

[HerveyShmervy]

Even if among is the correct translation that still doesn't mean that Junia had to have been an apostle.

[joshuakarr-BibleMan]

Apostleship is not a continuing office, but a select level of Jesus's disciples.
Jesus called 12 men, and called them apostles. One betrayed Him, and was replaced by sacred lot.
One was called later, in a special revelation.

There have only ever been those 14 apostles.

[TsukiYoruSakuraandKuro]

The claim that Junia was a woman apostle is supported by both biblical and historical evidence. Here’s a breakdown of the main arguments:

1. Biblical Reference (Romans 16:7)

In Romans 16:7, the Apostle Paul writes:

> "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." (NIV)



This verse contains three key elements supporting the claim:

1. Junia’s Name:
The Greek form of the name is Iounian (Ἰουνιᾶν), which is the accusative form of Junia—a common Latin female name. There is no evidence of a masculine form of this name in ancient Greek or Latin writings.


2. Gender of Junia:
Early church writers (e.g., John Chrysostom) consistently understood Junia as a woman. There is no historical record of the name being used for a man. Modern scholars largely agree that Junia was a woman.


3. "Outstanding Among the Apostles":
The Greek phrase episēmoi en tois apostolois is best translated as "outstanding among the apostles, " implying that Junia and Andronicus were counted as apostles themselves—not merely well-known to the apostles.




---

2. Early Church Interpretation

Church Fathers, including:

John Chrysostom (4th century) praised Junia, saying, "How great is the devotion of this woman, that she should be counted worthy of the title of apostle."

Origen and Jerome also accepted Junia as a female apostle without questioning her gender or status.



---

3. Modern Scholarship

The consensus among modern biblical scholars is that:

Junia was a woman.

She and Andronicus were apostles—likely not part of the Twelve, but among the broader group of early Christian missionaries recognized with the apostolic title.


Some older translations (e.g., RSV 1946) rendered the name as "Junias, " implying a male figure, but this has been corrected in more recent translations (e.g., NRSV, NIV, ESV).


---

Conclusion

The weight of linguistic evidence, early church tradition, and modern scholarship strongly supports the view that Junia was a woman and recognized as an apostle. The attempt to masculinize her name is a relatively modern development without historical support.

The argument that Junia was a man is a minority view and largely a product of later interpretations rather than early church tradition. This position emerged primarily in the 20th century due to gender biases rather than solid linguistic or historical evidence. However, here are the key points that have been used to argue Junia was a man:


---

1. The "Junias" Argument

Some scholars once argued that the Greek form Iounian (Ἰουνιᾶν) could be a shortened masculine name, Junias—similar to how "Andronicus" is clearly masculine.

However, there is no historical evidence (in Greek or Latin literature, inscriptions, or manuscripts) of Junias being used as a man's name in the ancient world.

This theory has been largely abandoned by most modern scholars.



---

2. Ambiguity of the Greek Form

The accusative form Iounian could technically refer to either Junia (feminine) or Junias (masculine). However:

Context and early church interpretation consistently support the feminine form.

No ancient manuscripts or writings refer to a male apostle named Junias.




---

3. Translation Bias

Older Bible translations (e.g., the RSV 1946) translated the name as Junias, reflecting the belief at the time that women could not be apostles.

This assumption wasn’t based on manuscript evidence but on a theological bias. Most modern translations (e.g., NIV, NRSV, ESV) have reverted to Junia as the proper rendering.



---

4. Alternative Interpretation of "Among the Apostles"

Some have argued that the phrase episēmoi en tois apostolois ("outstanding among the apostles") should be translated as "well-known to the apostles", implying that Junia and Andronicus were not apostles themselves.

However, the majority of Greek scholars agree that the natural reading of the phrase means they were distinguished as apostles themselves.



---

Why This Argument Is Rejected Today

There is no historical or manuscript evidence supporting the existence of a male Junias.

Early church fathers (e.g., Chrysostom) always referred to Junia as a woman and praised her apostolic status.

Modern scholarship overwhelmingly supports that Junia was a woman and that the claim she was a man reflects later theological bias rather than the historical record

[AstuteOldMan]

Here is an idea (out of love of course)….instead of applying western presuppositions from 1940 to your understanding of women leadership within the community of Christians, how about understanding the culture (honor-shame culture) of when the letters were written. Also, when teaching scripture or any particular belief you must understand all of the writings, examples, stories, etc and not pick or choose a certain sentence or thought and remove it from its original context. To fully understand Matthew-Revelations one must understand Genesis-Malachi.
When analyzing the letters of Paul one needs to understand his purpose which requires further study than just skimming through the writings.

As for Junia, most scholars hold to Junia being a female name. Romans chapter 16 is an interesting conclusion to the letter with about 1/3 of the individuals mentioned being women.

I challenge you to do a deep study of Deborah in the book of Judges along with a deep study of the first section of Genesis. And do not apply your western presuppositions.
Or just study the role of women in early church history and how they helped lead the church. Or research how women are leading the church in other cultures besides America.
The church is more than just Americans.

[ethan]

It really isn't that hard to understand. But then again neither is 1 Timothy 2 or 3.

[tblfg]

The New Testament States that the apostles had to have been physically with Christ or have been appointed by Christ as Paul was. There were the original 12(minus Judas Iscariot) equaling 11 plus Mathias, Chosen by God to take his Place, totaling 12. Paul who was Called By Christ on the Road to Damascus was the last apostle. So there were and are only 13 Apostles, no more no less.

[bradharford]

An apostle is one that is sent. Are only men sent. Apostles were gifts to the church for edifying of the body, until it reaches full stature. Did it reach full stature and completeness in the first century or is apostolic ministry still needed?

[WasLostButNowAmFound]

All these people, both men and women who want to "delete" what the bible clearly states. 😂

[kelleypayne-et]

What a lack of true scholarship! It's incredibly misleading to presuppose Junia was not an apostle. Funny how the author did not present contrary evidence to that presupposition, including variations in bible translations or the writings of several early Christians that believed Junia was, in fact, a woman apostle, such as Origen of Alexandria, one of the most prolific writers of his age; Jerome, the father of the Latin Vulgate Bible; Hatto, the Bishop of Vercelli; Theophylact, the deacon of Constantinople; and Bishop John Chrysostom — to name a few. It's sad how protective so many Christian "apologists" are of their patriarchal cultural appropriation, to the point of misrepresenting Christ's heart for women and their VITAL LEADERSHIP role in the early Church.

[carmengreen]

Who says Junia was a woman? What context?