Junia: Biography, Facts and Career

Junia or Junias (Biblical Greek: Ἰουνία/Ἰουνίας, Iounia/Iounias) was an early Christian in the first century known from Paul the Apostle's letter to the Romans. There has been dispute surrounding both Junia's gender and apostolic status among some in biblical scholarship as well as Catholic and Protestant (but not Orthodox) tradition. This although Junia has been viewed as female through most of Christian history as well as by the majority of scholars. With the exception of the reference to a masculine "Junias" in the Index Discipulorum, purportedly from Epiphanius of Salamis (fourth century), the first texts regarding Junia as a male named Junias come from 12th century manuscripts and the first named author to describe Junia as a male was Giles of Rome in the 13th century. The precise nature of Junia's apostolic status, however, has been more debated. Whereas the NIV calls Junia "outstanding among the apostles" and the NRSV "prominent among the apostles", implying that Junia was an apostle, the ESV has "well known to the apostles" and the NASB "outstanding in the view of the apostles", making no such implication. Romans 16:7 is the only place in the New Testament where Junia is named, although some have also identified her with a woman from the Gospels named Joanna, the wife of Chuza, who appears in Luke 8:1–3 and the narrative where the women visit the tomb of Jesus towards the end of the Gospels.

Quick facts about Junia

• Full name: Junia
• Nationality: Ancient Rome
• Known as: Author
• Wikidata ID: Q262766

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