Were the List of Names in Romans 16 Men of Women?

 

 Were the Names in Romans Men or Women?

 

 

 

 

 

 Introduction

Paul had many things to say about women in his writings to the various churches.  His writings seemed to restrict the importance of women at times, such as in 1 Corinthians 14:34-36.  He also admonished Timothy, his protégé, not to allow women to teach or have authority over a man in 1 Timothy 2:11-15.  Craig S. Keener feels that ultimately, God's call is for men and women despite his extensive review of Paul's reference to women. So, what is Paul saying to the Romans about the ministry of women?

 

 

History

The early Christian Church had a culture of being bias against women. Judaism fought to maintain their culture and religion in Torah. Women were subordinate to their husbands and could not appear in court. Nadine Hansen found that the New testament referred to women in terms which indicated they were ecclesiastical leaders unlike in the Old Testaments. For example, Phoebe and Junia.

 

 

 

 

 

Who is Phoebe mentioned in Romans 16:1

In Romans 16:1 of the New International Version, Phoebe was a mentioned as a deacon of the church in Cenchrea. In 1 Timothy 3:8-12, Paul identifies characteristics that deacons should have. He says a deacon should be the husband of one wife. He does not say that a deacon should be the wife of one husband. If Phoebe was indeed a deacon, Paul's view of women in the church continues to be unclear. Jeremy Punt believes that gendered assumptions and their effects are evident in translations of Romans where Paul introduced Phoebe. Phoebe's role is couched in terms that Paul also used for male counterparts. Paul translating deacon/deaconess in Romans 16:1 goes against the scope of use of women in the New Testament. It is probably indicative of gender bias and configuration more than anything else. In any event, Paul once again does not clearly state his approval of the female in a position in the church.

 

Who was Junia/Junias in Romans 16:7?

Paul declares women to forbade from speaking in church and to remain silent in the church in the book of 1 Corinthians 14:34-35. The scripture says, “the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. ³⁵ If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.” In Romans 16:7, Paul introduces another person, and she appears to be a female, according to Eldon Epp. Eldon points out the concerning of the name. The problem followed in Romans 16:7 when he greets Junia as a prominent among apostles. Junia was the feminine name and Junias was considered the masculine name in Greek term. Eldon discovered that Junia was in fact a male, Junias. Paul became clever with these names. Eldon’s assumption of Romans 16:7 in the twentieth-century was Paul telling us that women could not be apostles still.

 

 

Conclusion

It is apparent that women had a definite part in the growth of the Christian Church. Paul, as one of the leading authorities in the Church, was in the position to confirm their contributions. In Romans 16, he does this even though in his other letters he wrote, his support for women was not clear. Here is a YouTube Video about Paul and women. The confusion over Paul’s acceptance of women is still prevalent in the Christian Church.