Romans 16:7

My Notes

What Does Romans 16:7 Mean?

"Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me." Paul greets Andronicus and JUNIA — a woman — with extraordinary credentials: they're Paul's KINSMEN (Jewish relatives), his FELLOW-PRISONERS (they shared jail time for the gospel), NOTABLE AMONG THE APOSTLES (recognized by the apostolic circle), and they were IN CHRIST BEFORE Paul (converted before his Damascus-road experience). Every descriptor elevates them.

The name "Junia" (Iounian) is a WOMAN'S name — and the early church UNANIMOUSLY understood it as feminine until the medieval period. Junia is a WOMAN who is 'of note among the apostles.' The significance is enormous: a woman is identified with the apostolic circle and described as 'notable' within it. The early church's recognition of Junia's role is embedded in the canonical text.

The "of note among the apostles" (episēmoi en tois apostolois — distinguished/notable among the apostles) can mean either 'notable IN the group of apostles' (they WERE apostles, and notable ones) or 'notable TO the apostles' (the apostles recognized them). Either reading elevates Andronicus and Junia to the HIGHEST level of early church recognition. They weren't background figures. They were DISTINGUISHED.

Reflection Questions

• 1.What women in your community have apostle-level credentials — and are they recognized?
• 2.What does the early church unanimously understanding Junia as a woman teach about feminine apostolic recognition?
• 3.How does Paul acknowledging someone was in Christ BEFORE him model humility about seniority?
• 4.What does 'of note among the apostles' — the highest commendation — being applied to a woman change?

Devotional

Andronicus and JUNIA — Jewish relatives, fellow-prisoners, notable among the apostles, and in Christ BEFORE Paul. Every descriptor elevates. Every credential is extraordinary. And one of these distinguished, apostle-level, prison-sharing, pre-Pauline believers is a WOMAN.

The 'Junia' is a WOMAN'S name: the early church fathers — from Origen to Chrysostom to Jerome — understood Junia as a woman. Chrysostom (4th century) wrote: 'how great the devotion of this woman that she should be even counted worthy of the appellation of apostle.' The feminine reading was UNANIMOUS in the ancient church. The name was only masculinized (to 'Junias') in the 13th century. The text says Junia. The tradition says woman.

The 'of note among the apostles' is the HIGHEST commendation: whether it means Junia WAS an apostle (notable within the group) or was recognized BY apostles (notable to the group), the status is extraordinary. This woman shared prison with Paul, was in Christ BEFORE Paul, and was distinguished in or by the apostolic circle. The credentials are HIGHER than most named men in the New Testament.

The 'were in Christ before me' means their CONVERSION preceded Paul's: Andronicus and Junia were Christians BEFORE Paul's Damascus-road experience. They're more SENIOR in the faith. Their spiritual ancestry is OLDER. Paul — the apostle who wrote most of the New Testament — acknowledges that these two were ahead of him. The seniority is freely given.

What women in your community have credentials as significant as Junia's — and are they recognized?

Commentary

Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.

Cross References

Related passages throughout Scripture