Lexical Summary Iounias: Junias Original Word: Ἰουνίας Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Junias. Of Latin origin; Junias, a Christian -- Junias. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof Latin origin Definition Junias, a kinsman of Paul NASB Translation Junias (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2458: ἸουνιᾶςἸουνιᾶς (others, Ἰουνιᾶς, as contracted from Junianus; cf. Winer's Grammar, 102f (97)), Ἰουνια (but cf. Buttmann, 17f (16)), ὁ, Junias, a convert from Judaism, Paul's kinsman and fellow-prisoner: Romans 16:7 ((here A. V. Junia (a woman's name) which is possible). The name occurs again as the name of a Christian at Rome in Romans 16:15 Lachmann marginal reading (where others, Ἰουλίαν).) Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Strong’s Greek 2458 appears once in the New Testament, in Romans 16:7. Paul writes, “Greet Andronicus and Junias, my fellow kinsmen and fellow prisoners. They are highly regarded among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was” (Romans 16:7). Historical Background The greeting is part of Paul’s closing commendations to the believers in Rome. These personal notes reveal not only Paul’s affection but also the diversity and maturity of the Roman congregation. The appearance of this name alongside Andronicus suggests ministry partnership and shared suffering for the gospel, qualities highly esteemed in the first–century church. Identity and Gender Considerations Early Greek manuscripts wrote the name without accent marks, allowing either a masculine or feminine reading. Patristic writers such as Origen, John Chrysostom, and Jerome assumed the feminine “Junia.” Later Latin traditions tended toward the masculine “Junias,” in part because female apostolic recognition was deemed unlikely in certain ecclesial contexts. Conservative scholarship notes that (1) the phrase “well-known among the apostles” can mean “well known to the apostles,” and (2) the masculine reading aligns with the customary pairing of two male coworkers (cf. Acts 13:1, Colossians 4:10–11). Because Scripture does not explicitly resolve the matter, the church has historically exercised measured caution while honoring both grammatical possibilities. Apostolic Recognition and Ministry Whether the phrase indicates apostolic status or merely high repute before the apostles, the commendation is significant. Paul places these individuals in three distinguished categories: 1. “Fellow kinsmen” – likely ethnic Jews, underscoring shared heritage and fulfillment of covenant promises (Romans 9:4–5). Their conversion “before I was” anchors their faith in the early years following Pentecost, suggesting they may have belonged to the first wave of Jewish believers who carried the gospel beyond Jerusalem (Acts 8:1–4). Relation to the Roman Church Rome’s congregation included households from varied social strata (Romans 16:5, 16:10–11). The presence of seasoned Jewish Christians like Andronicus and Junias provided doctrinal stability during doctrinal controversies (Romans 14:1–6). Their proven faithfulness under persecution would have emboldened younger believers facing imperial suspicion (Romans 5:3–5). Patristic Reception Church Fathers cited the pair as examples of perseverance and apostolic cooperation. Chrysostom praised Junia’s dedication, observing that Paul’s praise is sufficient proof of her virtue. Augustine drew pastoral lessons from their imprisonment, urging steadfastness amid hardship. These citations show how early expositors leveraged Romans 16:7 to encourage holiness and unity. Theological and Pastoral Lessons 1. Years of Service: Coming to Christ early does not exempt believers from ongoing sacrifice; rather, longevity in the faith should yield deeper commitment. Practical Applications for Today • Churches should publicly honor long-standing members whose lives display perseverance (Hebrews 13:7). Through a single occurrence, Strong’s 2458 highlights the profound impact that unsung saints can have on the advance of the gospel and the strengthening of Christ’s church. Forms and Transliterations Ιουνιαν Ἰουνιᾶν Ἰουνίαν Iounian IouníanLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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