Option 2: Junia as missionary/church planter (lower sense of apostle)

The word apostolos means 'sent out' and is used in varied ways in Greek (including non-religious contexts). Many egalitarians themselves take this view — that Junia was a missionary or church planter, not an apostle of the highest rank. Philip Payne, a strong egalitarian, says 'outstanding among the apostles' implies Andronicus and Junia were 'revered missionaries recognized in the churches as having authority as ministers of the gospel.'