The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Andronicus
fl. c. 57 (in Christ before Paul) · Kinsman of Paul · “Of note among the apostles” · Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Andronicus was
“Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.” A Jewish believer converted within the church’s first two or three years — before Paul himself — imprisoned with him somewhere unrecorded, and reckoned episēmoi en tois apostolois: eminent among the apostles in the wider sense of commissioned missionaries. With Junia he represents the vanished first cohort: believers senior to every written source about them.
Common questions
When was Andronicus active?
Andronicus is dated fl. c. 57 (in Christ before Paul) in the archive, which places Andronicus in the Apostolic Fathers (AD 70–130). The dating is traditional and approximate; the archive marks it as uncertain rather than fixing a year the sources do not give.
Which early sources mention Andronicus?
Andronicus is named in 3 primary-source passages catalogued here, drawn from Paul, Origen of Alexandria and John Chrysostom. Every passage is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Where was Andronicus from?
The archive associates Andronicus with Rome.
Who were Andronicus’ contemporaries?
The archive links Andronicus to 2 other figures, including Junia and Paul of Tarsus. Each connection is drawn from a source that places them together, not from inference.
Scripture record
Primary-source mentions (3)
Every passage below is quoted from a named public-domain translation, earliest first.
Romans 16:7
c. AD 55Salute Andronicus and Junia… who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.Paul · read ↗
Origen, Commentary on Romans X (on 'of note among the apostles')
c. AD 246Homilies on Romans XXXI
c. AD 391“Who are of note among the Apostles.” And indeed to be apostles at all is a great thing. But to be even among these of note, just consider what a great encomium this is! But they were of note owing to their works, to their achievements. … “Who were also in Christ before me.”John Chrysostom · Homilies on Romans XXXI · source text
Connected in the archive
People
Events in this lifetime
- AD 30 · Crucifixion, Resurrection and Pentecost, AD 30–33
- AD 44 · Persecution under Herod Agrippa I, AD 44
- AD 49 · The Council of Jerusalem, AD 49
- AD 57 · Paul writes Romans, AD 57
- AD 62 · James the Just stoned, AD 62
- AD 64 · The Great Fire and Nero’s persecution, AD 64
- AD 70 · The fall of Jerusalem, AD 70
Place
Places served
The one place the sources put Andronicus.
- 1Rome