The name Junia appears in Romans 16:7, and Paul identifies her (along with Andronicus) as prominent among the apostles. In this important work, Epp investigates the mysterious disappearance of Junia from the traditions of the church. Because later theologians and scribes could not believe (or wanted to suppress) that Paul had numbered a woman among the earliest churches' apostles, Junia's name was changed in Romans to a masculine form.

Despite the fact that the earliest churches met in homes and that other women were clearly leaders in the churches (e.g., Prisca and Lydia ), calling Junia an apostle seemed too much for the tradition. Epp tracks how this happened in New Testament manuscripts, scribal traditions, and translations of the Bible. In this thoroughgoing study, Epp restores Junia to her rightful place.

ENDORSEMENTS

Eldon Epp [shows] that the greetings of Romans 16 contain one more woman's name than those of us educated in the twentieth century were led to believe. Her name is Junia, and Paul applies to her and her partner, Andronicus, the name 'apostle. ...For those Christians whose concern about women in leadership roles is tied to the question whether women actually served as leaders during the church's earliest generation, this book is an eye-opener.—Beverly Roberts Gaventa, from the foreword

Not only is Epp's fundamental thesis about textual criticism and exegesis meticulously documented and persuasively argued; his examination of the particular case of Romans 16:7 pulls together, sorts out, nails down, and illuminates the issues, assorted evidence, and often confusing arguments that have come to the fore in the last few decades. Thanks to this excellent book, I can affirm with renewed confidence both Junia's distinguished place among the apostles and her freedom to speak in the church!—Victor Paul Furnish, Southern Methodist University, Dallas

FORTRESS PRESS, 2005
Paperback, 156 Pages

	ELDON JAY EPP is Harkness Professor of Biblical Literature emeritus and Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences emeritus at Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio). He has also recently served as Visiting Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School and President of the Society of Biblical Literature.