Junia

Do you have any odd habits? I have a few:  I always put-on my socks before any other piece of clothing in the morning. I always need to have a clock in view, even placing one in the bathroom, in a strategic spot. And I always begin a book by reading it backward. 

Regarding that last habit: I don't linger there long, but I usually read at least the acknowledgments and the last few pages. Sometimes, my curiosity ruins my reading, squashing the book's suspense. But in most cases, it helps frame and inform my reading, giving me overarching insight into the entire book, helping interpret everything in the pages ahead.

New Testament scholar Scott McKnight contends that the book of Romans, penned by the Apostle Paul, is a book that should be read backward. We often view Romans primarily as a book of heavy doctrinal thought unrelated to the daily demands of living.  But if read backward, Romans is amazingly relevant, very much related to real life and people -- including women. 

Now, that surprises some because the stereotype of the Apostle Paul is that he hates women, expecting them to be subservient, to submit and be silent. But if you read the book of Romans backward, women take on a whole new worth, both in terms of personhood and ministry. 

Why in Romans 16, for example, the last chapter in Romans, Paul greets twenty-nine individuals, including ten women, 34% of his “shout-outs.” And of the ten women, seven fulfill ministry functions within the fledging Roman church.  

Phoebe is a deacon and a patron (Romans 16:1), Priscilla is a co-worker and host of a house church (Romans 16:3+5), Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and Persis are laborers (Romans 16:6; 12), and Junia is an Apostle (Romans 16:7). 

Now all these women have merit, but Junia stands out because Junia is identified as a major ministry leader, an apostle -- in fact – “outstanding among the apostles.” (Romans 16:7, NIV) Now some contend the correct translation is not Junia as an apostle, but Junia as one “well known to the apostles,” (Romans 16:7, ESV) -- but the majority of biblical scholars favor the former translation, indeed identifying Junia as an apostle.  

As an apostle, Junia served as an evangelist, one commissioned as a missionary to spread the faith. In the New Testament, there were two categories of apostles:  First, a small group of leaders commissioned personally by Jesus to spread the Gospel, such as Paul and Peter. But secondly, apostle also refers to a larger group of persons commissioned by the first apostles to be apostles, propagating the Christian faith. Junia was in this latter category, serving as a vital ambassador and missionary for the Gospel. 

It’s noteworthy that Junia doesn’t operate solo, but works as a team with Andronicus who’s also an apostle and probably her husband or brother. We don’t know a lot about the outreach of this pair. But we do know from Romans 16:7 that Junia and Andronicus were notable, distinguished apostles, 

1) outstanding among their peers -- 2) they were persecuted for their faith, imprisoned with the Apostle Paul, no less -- and that 3) they were veteran believers, giving their lives to the Lord, even before Paul, perhaps even knowing Jesus personally. 

Thus, Junia and Andronicus were not minor league but major league players in the early church, who undoubtedly had a marque role in advancing the Gospel in impactful ways. With that established, what's the significance of Junia, in particular, as a woman, being included as a major leader in the early church? 

For starters, Junia reminds us that...  

Women Are Equal To Men In Their Intrinsic Personhood And Worth. 

Though it’s controversial to say out loud, we live in a world where patriarchy still lives, that is, a belief system that purports that men have the edge over women, in terms of fundamental ability, personhood and worth.  

That was true in biblical culture, under both the old and new covenants. Why Jewish men throughout biblical history would regularly recite in their daily prayer the thanksgiving: “Praised be God that he has not created me a woman.” But Jesus exploded that ideology, resulting in the Apostle Paul concluding:  

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28, NIV). 

Thus, any scripture, in particular, that suggests that men have the edge over women -- or -- that women need to submit to men must be interpreted through the lens of this overarching, governing truth.   For Jesus, women are equal to men in their intrinsic ability, personhood and worth and must be respected accordingly. 

Matthew Henry, a 18th century British pastor best known for his devotional commentary on the Bible, reflected the patriarchy of his time.  But when he interpreted the making of male and female in Genesis 1, the Spirit of God hijacked his cultural bias: why men and women are equal, after all.  

“...Woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam," Henry reflects in his commentary. "Not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.”  

I pray that we, like Henry, allow the Spirit of God to hijack our cultural bias. For there is no other biblical truth than this truth:  women and men are fully, totally, unequivocally equal. 

But there's more. Junia also reminds us that... 

Women Are Equal To Men In Their Ability And Role In Advancing The Gospel. 

As important as it is to affirm women's equality in terms of worth, it is similarly essential to establish the equality of women in terms of ministry role. Contrary to recent actions by the Southern Baptist Convention and other church bodies, women are called by God to all church leadership roles. This is startlingly clear in Romans 16 as Paul connects various women to various ministry functions, including Junia as an apostle.

Historically, the church has affirmed this. Bible scholar Eldon Jay Epp notes that Junia was almost universally translated in its feminine form until the 20th century, when it suddenly changed to the masculine form Junias found in translations like the Revised Standard Version and, most recently, the Living Bible. But if you consider the whole scope of church history and interpretation the consensus of the ages is conclusive: Junia is, in fact, a woman and not a man.  

“How great was the wisdom of this woman that she was thought worthy of being called an apostle!” church father John Chrysostom  celebrates.  

Thankfully, recent updates to most Bible translations have recognized this and given Junia her rightful place. 

But what evidence do we have beyond Romans 16:17 for the conclusion that women are equal to men in ministry role? For me, three texts stand out: Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11 and Ephesians 4:4-13. 

In all three cases, these scriptures list spiritual gifts and spiritual roles for ministry. But it’s striking that in each case, no preamble declares that the ministry gifts or roles listed are just for men. In each case, the text indicates that the gifts are for both men and women. 

For example, Romans 12:6 declares:  

“We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us..." (Romans 12:6).  

Or consider 1 Corinthians 12:6 

"There are different kinds of working [that is expressions of spiritual gifts and service), but in all of them, and in everyone it is the same God at work.”  (1 Corinthians 12:6).  

And lastly, consider Ephesians 4:7 

"But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it...So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip his people..."  (Ephesians 7; 11-12). 

It goes beyond the scope of this message to consider New Testament texts that seem to contradict this assertion, such as 1 Corinthians 14:34, which calls for women to be silent in the church, or Titus 1:5-9, which recognizes only husbands as elders/pastors. Suffice to say for now, these are isolated, unique, situational references that, if interpreted contextually, do not contradict the grand sweep of scripture that affirms that both men and women are called equally to all ministry roles.  

Well, lastly, Junia reminds us that... 

Whether Women Or Men, Gospel Ministry Requires Noteworthy Sacrifice.  

It’s significant that Paul describes Junia along with Andronicus as "outstanding among the apostles" (Romans 16:7). In part, their stature is because of their time in prison that represented noteworthy sacrifice for the Lord.  

It’s difficult for Western Christians, in particular, to identify faith with noteworthy sacrifice, let alone prison.  Frankly, most of us have never had to suffer any major inconvenience or suffering for our beliefs, let alone prison But in the early church, persecution and trouble with the status quo were a regular part of following Jesus.  Paul himself fueled this pattern before his conversion.  As Paul confessed in Acts 22:4, 

“I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison.” (Acts 22:4).  

It's important to underscore that prison in bible times was no joke.  As Bible scholar Nijay Gupta notes, prisons were deplorable, characterized by 

“Overcrowding, no fresh air, darkness, heavy and sharp metal shackles that often cut into the skin. On top of that, sounds of torture echoed through the hallways, and the reality of sexual violence would have been a constant fear for...incarcerated women.” 

Nevertheless, Junia and Andronicus preserved.  And so must we, in whatever way we are called to sacrifice for Jesus. 

Now in all probability, few of us will ever be imprisoned for our faith, or experience pronounced persecution.  But we’re called, nevertheless, to noteworthy sacrifice, inconveniencing ourselves, for the Lord. 

Once noted preacher Fred Craddock reflected on what such sacrifice looks like. We think that noteworthy sacrifice, giving all to Jesus, is akin to taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the altar, ‘Here’s my life, Lord; I’m giving my all.’  But in actuality, God sends most of us to the bank to cash in our $1,000 for quarters, calling us to do our sacrifice in increments, 25 cents at a time. For example, you give your 25 cents when you listen to neighbor’s kid’s troubles instead of saying ‘Get lost.’  You give your 25 cents when you go to yet another church meeting, rather than staying home and watching Jeopardy.  You give your 25 cents when you give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home instead of going to the Orioles game.  Contrary to the stereotype, sacrificing for Jesus normally isn’t glorious, Craddock concludes.  Rather, “it’s done in... little acts of love, 25 cents at a time…”  

Sure, prison and persecution are still possibilities, especially as our culture shifts even farther from Christ.  But Craddock is right: noteworthy sacrifice for most of us, will be done 25 cents at a time.  It’s tempting to discount that currency, but please don’t.  You're incremental, sacrificial, daily, acts of justice, compassion, and advocacy for the Lord truly do add up.  

In light of our focus on Junia, may one of those acts of advocacy be advocacy for women and women in leadership.  For too long patriarchy has ruled when scripture in fact calls for equality in Christ to reign recognizing both women and men as full counterparts and peers! 

And so, I challenge us:  let’s not only greet Andronicus as outstanding among the apostles but Junia too, emulating their devotion, sacrifice and missionary spirit, witnessing to the Jesus who provides  equality and empowerment not just for men, but for all women as well! 

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A resource sheet focusing on technical detail related to biblical exegesis and the claim for Junia being a woman and an apostle is available upon request.  If you'd like a copy, please email me at:  pmundey@gmail.com.