The Apostolic Fathers · AD 70–130
Junia
fl. c. 57 (in Christ before Paul) · Kinswoman of Paul · “Of note among the apostles” · Rome
The Apostolic Fathers
Who Junia was
Named with Andronicus — husband, brother, or colleague — as Paul’s kinswoman, fellow-prisoner, in Christ before him, and “of note among the apostles.” That Junia is a woman’s name was the unanimous reading of the fathers: “How great the wisdom of this woman,” Chrysostom preached, “that she was even deemed worthy of the appellation of apostle.” The medieval alteration to a male “Junias” — a name unattested anywhere in antiquity — has been reversed by the manuscripts and the lexicons alike. She is the first-generation church’s most senior named woman missionary.
Also listed in women.
Common questions
When was Junia active?
Junia is dated fl. c. 57 (in Christ before Paul) in the archive, which places Junia 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 Junia?
Junia 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 Junia from?
The archive associates Junia with Rome.
Who were Junia’s contemporaries?
The archive links Junia to 3 other figures, including Andronicus, Paul of Tarsus and Phoebe of Cenchreae. 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, my kinsmen, and my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles…Paul · read ↗
Origen, Commentary on Romans X (on Andronicus and Junia)
c. AD 246Homily 31 on Romans
c. AD 390To be an apostle is a great thing; but to be of note among the apostles — consider how great an encomium that is… Oh, how great is the devotion of this woman, that she should be even counted worthy of the appellation of apostle!John Chrysostom · 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 Junia.
- 1Rome