Female Leaders in the Early Church --- Was Junia an apostle?

[Guest]

Hey I'd vote most definitely.

I've seen good evidence to point "Junia" being a woman, and great evidence to support Phoebe as an "official" deaconness.

Interestingly, in Ben Witherington's What Have They Done with Jesus?, he explores evidence for the possibility that Junia is the same person as the gospels "joanna".

[Guest]

I've seen good evidence to point "Junia" being a woman

You're the first person I've ever encountered who possesses such evidence. Please share it with us.

[Guest]

I should of known you'd ask that

It's in a book entitled "What Paul Really Said about Women" by John Bristow.

I'll dig into it when I get a chance and post the basic argument.

[Guest]

I'm currently reading Witherington's book previously mentioned. He states the Latin name Junia is equivalent to the Hebrew Joanna. Some of you are much better with languages than I. Is he correct?

livingink

[Guest]

Bristow, whose book I referred to earlier, says that the word Junian as it is in the original text is the accusative form of the feminine name Junia... but others say it's a contraction of the masculine Junianus.

Also, he notes that John Chrysostom had no doubts that this passage was referring to a woman.

The pairing, to me, suggests a husband and wife, as Witherington holds.

[Guest]

Plutarch said that Marcus Brutus was descended from Junius Brutus. I couldn't find his work in Greek, but I suspect that the name translated as "Junius" is "iounias".

Hi, I checked it on the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, and unfortunately the form is Iounios.

Epiphanias the bishop of Salamis, on the other hand, believed "Jun..." was a man.

Yes, his testimony is usually dismissed because he made the mistake of calling Priscilla a man, but he does seem to be the only person with any actual biographical information, and this can't be discounted.

[Guest]

Junia was a well known woman emissary (apostle)...the greek text is quite clear. Many Churchmen (West & East) who cannot refute the Greek text just dismiss it as a doubtful passage. I love it. It must be a scribal gloss, an interpolation or a down right wacky insertion by a trouble maker! Or you can just change it to Junio in Latin or in a English translation if you wish.

Junia is a Latin female name...the greek grammar is feminine case and so is the name. Many folks just hate "sola scriptura" when it "slappa de preconseptiona."


Orthodox1

[Guest]

Junia was a well known woman emissary (apostle)...the greek text is quite clear. Many Churchmen (West & East) who cannot refute the Greek text just dismiss it as a doubtful passage. I love it. It must be a scribal gloss, an interpolation or a down right wacky insertion by a trouble maker! Or you can just change it to Junio in Latin or in a English translation if you wish.

Junia is a Latin female name...the greek grammar is feminine case and so is the name. Many folks just hate "sola scriptura" when it "slappa de preconseptiona."


Orthodox1

Can you show were you disagree with Paidion in his original post that started this thread. He at least went through some effort to make his/the case. I may be too dense to understand your answer but could you at least attempt one instead of just saying it's so.

Oh, glad to see you back! 8)