Are There Women Apostles in the New Testament?

Women Apostles in the New Testament?

Women apostles in the New Testament? The question came up in our recent Adult Bible Class. I touched on it when I wrote Local Churches Global Apostles: How Churches Related to Apostles in the New Testament Era and Why It Matters Now. After the Bible class question, I decided to pursue the matter again.

Romans 16:7 is the only verse in question about the issue. If possible, two questions in this verse must be answered. Is Junia(s) a man or a woman? Second, how should “epistnmi among the apostles” be translated? Let’s examine some translations.

Greet Andronicus and Junias, [man’s name] my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. NASB

Salute Andronicus and Junia, [woman’s name] my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. KJV

Commentator David Brown explains: Andronicus and Junia–or, as it might be, “Junias,” a contracted form of “Junianus”; in this case, it is a man’s name. But if, as is more probable, the word be, as in our version, “Junia,” the person meant was no doubt either the wife or the sister of Andronicus.—Jamieson, Faussett and Brown

Charles Ryrie of Dallas Theological Seminary writes: “outstanding among the apostles. Better, well-known to the apostles.”

Let’s try some more translations of Romans 16:7.

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow countrymen and fellow prisoners. They are noteworthy in the eyes of the apostles, and they were also in Christ before me. HCSB

Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. ESV

Remember me to Andronicus and Junias, my fellow-countrymen, who went to prison with me. They are noted men among the missionaries, and they became Christians before I did. Goodspeed 1923

. . .and to Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen, who once shared my imprisonment. They are of note among the Apostles, and are Christians of longer standing than myself. Weymouth 1912

Remember me to Andronicus and Junias, my tribal kinsmen and once my fellow prisoners. They are men held in high esteem among the apostles, who also were in Christ before I was. AMP

Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners; they are men of note among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Catholic Edition of RSV 1966

What do the commentators say?

Of note among the apostles has the idea that Andronicus and Junia are apostles themselves (though not of the twelve), and notable among other apostles. If there ever were women recognized as apostles . . . this is the strongest Scriptural evidence. It isn’t very strong. –David Guzik, Commentary on Romans

They were of note among the apostles, not so much perhaps because they were persons of estate and quality in the world as because they were eminent for knowledge, and gifts, and graces, which made them famous among the apostles, who were competent judges of those things, and were endued with a spirit of discerning not only the sincerity, but the eminency, of Christians. –Matthew Henry

. . .which are of note among the apostles–Those who think the word “apostle” is used in a lax sense, in the Acts and Epistles, take this to mean “noted apostles” [CHRYSOSTOM, LUTHER, CALVIN, BENGEL, OLSHAUSEN, THOLUCK, ALFORD, JOWETT]; others, . . . understand by the expression used here, “persons esteemed by the apostles” [BEZA, GROTIUS, DE WETTE, MEYER, FRITZSCHE, STUART, PHILIPPI, HODGE]. And of course, if “Junia” is to be taken for a woman, this latter must be the meaning. –Jamieson, Fausset and Brown

So there we have it! Are there women apostles mentioned in the Bible? No one knows for sure. Further, no one will ever know with certainty until we get to heaven (or possibly, until more ancient manuscripts of Romans 16:7 are discovered.)

Well, wait a minute. Let’s rephrase the question? Are there women apostles (plural) in the Bible? The answer is clearly “No.” But is there one woman apostle in the Bible? Maybe, and if so, she is mentioned here in Romans 16:7!

Sound off! What’s your take on women apostles?