Epp on Junia / Junias (Rom 16:7)
James Ernest
jdelists at earthlink.net
Mon Jun 3 19:52:01 EDT 2002
Epp's article rather comprehensively argues on the basis of textual
criticism, grammar, etc., that the name is masculine; argues against
translations along the lines "outstanding in the eyes of the apostles"; and
lays out in detail the history of the Junia / Junias decision in Greek mss.
and editions, English Bibles, and commentaries.
Clay is right that all of this leaves open the question of the meaning of
apostolos. Epp, writing about the significance of textual criticism for
exegesis, doesn't tarry long on this latter point ( "Naturally exegetes also
explored whether 'apostle' here and elsewhere is used in a broader or looser
sense, such as 'messenger', 'missionary preacher', or 'itinerant
missionary', but that is an issue beyond our present scope" [p. 285]). He
evidently does have an eye on current interpretation and application
("Numerous <I>scholars</I> will accept such decisions regarding the three
passages [Rom 16:7; 1 Cor 14:34-35; 1 Tim 2:8-15] and will declare that the
assumed Pauline restriction on teaching in the church by women has
disappeared, but how these academic conclusions 'play out' in the larger
Christian communities is another issue. Do textual criticism and exegesis
affect one another? Absolutely, but human beings carry out not only textual
criticism and interpretation, but implementation as well, and that makes all
the difference" [p. 291]) but these matters are not the locus of his
argument.
________________________________________________________
James D. Ernest, Ph.D.
Associate Editorial Director
Hendrickson Publishers
140 Summit Street
P. O. Box 3473
Peabody, MA 01961-3473 USA
978/573-2243 (phone and voicemail)
978/573-8243 (fax)
jernest at hendrickson.com
http://www.hendrickson.com/
________________________________________________________
----- Original Message -----
From: "c stirling bartholomew" <cc.constantine at worldnet.att.net>
To: "Biblical Greek" <b-greek at franklin.oit.unc.edu>
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 3:15 PM
Subject: [b-greek] Re:Epp on Junia / Junias (Rom 16:7)
<snip>
> According to Thomas R. Schreiner* the consensus up until the 13th Century
> was that the referent of JUNIA was a woman. So why should it cause anyone
> problems now? One reason only, misunderstanding of the semantic range of
> APOSTOLOIS.
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