Junia

[Image of Junia appears on screen]
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Junia is mentioned in Romans 16:7, where Paul writes, 'Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.' This is the only reference to Junia in the New Testament."
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Scholars differ on the exact meaning of Paul’s words here. Some understand ‘outstanding among the apostles’ to mean that Junia herself was considered an apostle in a broad sense of ‘messenger’ or ‘sent one.’ Others interpret it to mean that she was well known to the apostles, without necessarily being counted among them. Either way, Paul clearly holds Junia and Andronicus in high regard for their faith and service."
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Paul also notes that Junia was a believer before he came to faith, suggesting she was among the earliest followers of Jesus in the church’s history. He calls her a ‘fellow prisoner,’ which means she had been imprisoned for her faith at some point."
[Closing reflection]
So what’s so special about Junia? While the details of her ministry are not recorded, this brief greeting shows her as an early believer who was respected by Paul and others. Junia’s inclusion in Romans 16 reminds us that many faithful men and women served in the early church—often without their full stories being told."
To read Paul’s greeting to Junia for yourself, see Romans 16:7."
[Closing screen: 'Explore more characters of the Bible with Who’s Who in the Bible.']