2458. Iounias
Lexical Summary
Iounias: Junias

Original Word: Ἰουνίας
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: Iounias
Pronunciation: ee-oo-NEE-as
Phonetic Spelling: (ee-oo-nee'-as)
KJV: Junias
NASB: Junias
Word Origin: [of Latin origin]

1. Junias, a Christian

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Junias.

Of Latin origin; Junias, a Christian -- Junias.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of Latin origin
Definition
Junias, a kinsman of Paul
NASB Translation
Junias (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2458: Ἰουνιᾶς

Ἰουνιᾶς (others, Ἰουνιᾶς, as contracted from Junianus; cf. Winer's Grammar, 102f (97)), Ἰουνια (but cf. Buttmann, 17f (16)), , 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).
2. “Fellow prisoners” – a testimony to faithful endurance under persecution. Imprisonment for Christ attests to gospel zeal (Philippians 1:12–14).
3. “Highly regarded among the apostles” – an acknowledgment of tested ministry, doctrinal soundness, and sacrificial service.

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.
2. Suffering for the Gospel: Shared imprisonment illustrates that hardship is integral to faithful ministry (2 Timothy 3:12).
3. Mutual Recognition: The commendation model in Romans 16 underscores healthy accountability and honor within the body (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13).
4. Ethnic Harmony: Jewish and Gentile believers labor side by side, fulfilling Paul’s vision of one new humanity in Christ (Ephesians 2:14–16).
5. Gender Debate with Charity: Disagreement over Junias/Junia should not eclipse the text’s main emphasis—gospel faithfulness acknowledged by apostolic authority.

Practical Applications for Today

• Churches should publicly honor long-standing members whose lives display perseverance (Hebrews 13:7).
• Ministry partnerships grounded in shared suffering forge bonds that transcend social categories.
• The church must read personal greetings not as mere historical footnotes but as Spirit-inspired portraits of discipleship worthy of imitation.

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 Iounían
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Romans 16:7 N-AFS
GRK: Ἀνδρόνικον καὶ Ἰουνίαν τοὺς συγγενεῖς
NAS: Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen
KJV: Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen,
INT: Andronicus and Junias kinsmen

Strong's Greek 2458
1 Occurrence


Ἰουνίαν — 1 Occ.

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