Romans 16: A woman apostle

Many "Apostles" (the original eleven and Paul) and "apostles" are listed in the GNT (Greek New Testament).

Identify an "apostle" mentioned by Paul who is a woman? That is, at least until a thousand years later when some men in Rome decided that it must have been a mistake and changed the gender to a man.

In tracking down the scent of apostles and messages one must determine what it means to be sent (scent).

The word "apostle" and "epistle" mean sending.

The word "apostle", with prefix "apo", refers to the sending of a person who has a message to tell.
The word "epistle", with prefix "epi", refers to the sending of a message such as a letter to be read.

The English word "angel" is another type of messenger.

More: Tracking down the scent of apostles and messages

The typical letter format is the following form.

Sender and introduction
Body: important issues and problems
Conclusion and goodbye

Beware of Bible studies or teachers that spend all their time on the beginning and/or end of letters and skip the middle parts - the entire reason the letter was written.
At the end of Romans, Paul greets certain people in the church at Rome.

Usually, the beginning and end of letters are somewhat like a boilerplate and do not have a huge theological impact.

In this case, there are some interesting aspects of the conclusion to Romans.

The letter to the church in Rome, as Romans, can be considered part of a trilogy having where Romans has to do with what it means to be "just" or "righteous".

More: The just shall live by faith

Notice how many women are named in the concluding remarks at the end of the book of Romans.

Romans 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: [kjv]

16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. [kjv]

16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: [kjv]

16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us. [kjv]

Romans 16:1

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KJV: I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Greek: συνιστημι δε υμιν φοιβην την αδελφην ημων ουσαν και διακονον της εκκλησιας της εν κεγχρεαις

Romans 16:2

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KJV: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Greek: ινα αυτην προσδεξησθε αυτην εν κυριω αξιως των αγιων και παραστητε αυτη εν ω αν υμων χρηζη πραγματι και γαρ αυτη προστατις πολλων εγενηθη και αυτου εμου αυτου

Romans 16:3

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KJV: Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:

Greek: ασπασασθε πρισκιλλαν πρισκαν και ακυλαν τους συνεργους μου εν χριστω ιησου

Romans 16:4

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KJV: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Greek: οιτινες υπερ της ψυχης μου τον εαυτων τραχηλον υπεθηκαν οις ουκ εγω μονος ευχαριστω αλλα και πασαι αι εκκλησιαι των εθνων

Romans 16:5

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KJV: Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

Greek: και την κατ οικον αυτων εκκλησιαν ασπασασθε επαινετον τον αγαπητον μου ος εστιν απαρχη της αχαιας ασιας εις χριστον

Romans 16:6

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KJV: Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.

Greek: ασπασασθε μαριαμ μαριαν ητις πολλα εκοπιασεν εις ημας υμας

Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [kjv]

ασπασασθε ανδρονικον και ιουνιαν τους συγγενεις μου και συναιχμαλωτους μου οιτινες εισιν επισημοι εν τοις αποστολοις οι και προ εμου γεγοναν εν χριστω [gnt]

… Ιουνιαν… συγγενεις … αποστολων… [el]

… Iuniam cognatos … apostolis … [v]

Who is this "Junia"?

Some believe, since "Junia" was in Christ before Paul, and Saul became Paul was not that long after the resurrection, that her Aramaic name was used in Luke as "Joanna", the wife of Chuza.

The Greek for "kinsmen" is masculine plural and applies to both male and female if the context indicates this. The same applies to the Greek for "apostles".

Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [kjv]

ασπασασθε ανδρονικον και ιουνιαν τους συγγενεις μου και συναιχμαλωτους μου οιτινες εισιν επισημοι εν τοις αποστολοις οι και προ εμου γεγοναν εν χριστω [gnt]

… Ιουνιαν… συγγενεις … αποστολων… [el]

… Iuniam cognatos … apostolis … [v]

Romans 16:7
Strong	Used	Unique	Word	Part of speech
G2458	1	1	ιουνιαν	noun accusative singular feminine
G4773	12	5	συγγενεις	adjective accusative plural masculine
G652	79	6	αποστολοις	noun dative plural masculine

Romans 16:7

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KJV: Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Greek: ασπασασθε ανδρονικον και ιουνιαν τους συγγενεις μου και συναιχμαλωτους μου οιτινες εισιν επισημοι εν τοις αποστολοις οι και προ εμου γεγονασιν γεγοναν εν χριστω

Greek today: Ασπασθητε τον Ανδρονικον και Ιουνιαν, τους συγγενεις μου και συναιχμαλωτους μου, οιτινες ειναι επισημοι μεταξυ των αποστολων, οιτινες και προ εμου ησαν εις τον Χριστον.

Latin: salutate Andronicum et Iuniam cognatos et concaptivos meos qui sunt nobiles in apostolis qui et ante me fuerunt in Christo

Wycliffe: Grete wel Andronyk and Julian, my cosyns, and myn euen prisouneris, which ben noble among the apostlis, and whiche weren bifor me in Crist.

Luther: Grüßet den Andronikus und den Junias, meine Gefreundeten und meine Mitgefangenen, welche sind berühmte Apostel und vor mir gewesen in Christo.

Slavonic: Целуйте Андроника и Иунию, сродники моя и спленники моя, иже суть нарочиты во Апостолех, иже и прежде мене вероваста во Христа.

Russian: Приветствуйте Андроника и Юнию, сродников моих и узников со мною, прославившихся между Апостолами и прежде меня еще уверовавших во Христа.

Spanish: Saludad a Andrónico y a Junia, mis parientes y mis compañeros de prisiones, que son insignes entre los apóstoles; y que también fueron antes de mí en Cristo.

Since Luke wrote Acts for Paul, and researched and wrote Luke, he may have obtained some of the stories involving Junia and the others from Junia herself. We read about this in two places in the book of Luke.

Luke 8:2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, [kjv]

και γυναικες τινες αι ησαν τεθεραπευμεναι απο πνευματων πονηρων και ασθενειων μαρια η καλουμενη μαγδαληνη αφ ης δαιμονια επτα εξεληλυθει [gnt]

8:3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. [kjv]

και ιωαννα γυνη χουζα επιτροπου ηρωδου και σουσαννα και ετεραι πολλαι αιτινες διηκονουν αυτοις εκ των υπαρχοντων αυταις [gnt]

… Iohanna … Susanna … [v]

Luke 8:2

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KJV: And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Greek: και γυναικες τινες αι ησαν τεθεραπευμεναι απο πνευματων πονηρων και ασθενειων μαρια η καλουμενη μαγδαληνη αφ ης δαιμονια επτα εξεληλυθει

Luke 8:3

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KJV: And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Greek: και ιωαννα γυνη χουζα επιτροπου ηρωδου και σουσαννα και ετεραι πολλαι αιτινες διηκονουν αυτω απο αυτοις εκ των υπαρχοντων αυταις

Latin: et Iohanna uxor Chuza procuratoris Herodis et Susanna et aliae multae quae ministrabant eis de facultatibus suis

Luke 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. [kjv]

ησαν δε η μαγδαληνη μαρια και ιωαννα και μαρια η ιακωβου και αι λοιπαι συν αυταις ελεγον προς τους αποστολους ταυτα [gnt]

… Iohanna … [v]

24:11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. [kjv]

και εφανησαν ενωπιον αυτων ωσει ληρος τα ρηματα ταυτα και ηπιστουν αυταις [gnt]

We see the name "Joanna" again after the resurrection in Luke. This is after the discovery of the empty tomb.
The verses mentioning "Joanna" in Luke clearly refer to a woman. Is this the same woman mentioned as a women at the end of Romans by Paul?

Some believe that this is likely while.some dispute this.

Luke 24:10

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KJV: It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.

Greek: ησαν δε η μαγδαληνη μαρια και ιωαννα και μαρια η ιακωβου και αι λοιπαι συν αυταις αι ελεγον προς τους αποστολους ταυτα

Latin: erat autem Maria Magdalene et Iohanna et Maria Iacobi et ceterae quae cum eis erant quae dicebant ad apostolos haec

Wycliffe: And ther was Marie Mawdeleyn, and Joone, and Marie of James, and other wymmen that weren with hem, that seiden to apostlis these thingis.

Luther: Es war aber Maria Magdalena und Johanna und Maria, des Jakobus Mutter, und andere mit ihnen, die solches den Aposteln sagten.

Luke 24:11

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KJV: And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

Greek: και εφανησαν ενωπιον αυτων ωσει ληρος τα ρηματα αυτων ταυτα και ηπιστουν αυταις

Luke 24:12

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KJV: Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Greek: ο ο δε πετρος αναστας εδραμεν επι το μνημειον και παρακυψας βλεπει τα οθονια κειμενα μονα και απηλθεν προς αυτον εαυτον θαυμαζων το γεγονος

Romans 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [kjv]

In the early church history, John Chrysostom (347-407), archbishop of Constantinople, wrote the following concerning Junia.
“Greet Andronicus and Junia . . . who are outstanding among the apostles”: To be an apostle is something great. But to be outstanding among the apostles— just think what a wonderful song of praise that is! They were outstanding on the basis of their works and virtuous actions. Indeed, how great the wisdom of this woman must have been that she was even deemed worthy of the title of apostle. Wikipedia

That "Junia" was a woman was accepted by the Eastern Orthodox church and is maintained to this day.

The historical legend is that she was a martyr for her faith.

At some point in the Middle Ages, over a thousand years later, some men in Rome decided that "Junia" must be a man and changed the story, so to speak.

The quote from John Chrysostom (archbishop of Constantinople) and the recognition of the Eastern Orthodox church should not be underestimated.

The western empire based in Rome was the center of the Latin language and never adopted Greek as a primary language (which children learned growing up).
The eastern empire based in Constantinople was the center of the Greek language and never adopted Latin as a primary language (which children learned growing up).

If anyone at the time understood Greek and what it meant, it would be the eastern empire (a few hundred years from the event) rather than the western empire (over thousand years after the event).

Women were helpful to Paul and others throughout history and, like some men, have at times taken (or called to) important leadership roles.

(interesting story about deacon in Park Forest Baptist Church)

There have been many arguments for and against the position that Junia was a woman apostle.

One can read the Wikipedia page on "Junia (New Testament person)" for more information and links to additional material.