Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 63:3 (Sep 2020)
Article: Was Junia(s) In Rom 16:7 A Female Apostle? And So What?
Author: Esther Yue L. Ng

JETS 63:3 (September 2020) p. 517

Was Junia(s) In Rom 16:7 A Female Apostle?
And So What?

Esther Yue L. Ng

Esther Yue L. Ng is Senior Adjunct Professor of NT and Christian Ethics at Christian Witness Theological Seminary, 1975 Concourse Drive, San Jose, CA 95131. She may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: There are cogent reasons to challenge the current consensus that Junia(s) in Rom 16:7 was a female apostle. As suggested by Al Wolters, the name probably did not derive from Latin, but was the Greek translation of the Hebrew masculine name yḥwny. Not counting Rom 16:7, apparently no first-century Jewish woman bore the name Junia. Judging from 1 Cor 9:5, Paul regarded apostles as men, and some early Church Fathers viewed Junia(s) as male. The expression “notable among apostles” should preferably be translated “esteemed by the apostles.” First-century Greco-Roman society, the early orthodox church, and even heretical sects all imposed restrictions on the public roles of women. Even Chrysostom, who regarded Junia as a woman apostle, was no exception. In view of uncertainties over the sex and apostolic status of Junia(s), it is inadvisable to appeal to Rom 16:7 as a historical precedent to advocate for equal ministry opportunities for women and men or to charge various Christian leaders and institutions for the alleged “sex change” of the female Junia to a male named Junias due to androcentric bias.

Key words: Rom 16:7, 1 Cor 9:5, Junia, apostle, first-century women’s names, women’s roles, Paul’s co-workers

ἀσπάσασθε Ἀνδρόνικον καὶ Ἰουνίαν τοὺς συγγενεῖς μου καὶ συναιχμαλώτους μου, οἵτινές εἰσιν ἐπίσημοι ἐν τοῖς ἀποστόλοις, οἳ καὶ πρὸ ἐμοῦ γέγοναν ἐν Χριστῷ.

“Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” (Rom 16:7, NRSV)

To many biblical scholars, there is a growing consensus that the “Junia”1 mentioned in Romans 16:7 alongside Andronicus is the name of a woman; since the two persons are described as “apostles�...