ἐν ἐπισήμῳ

Summary

ἐν ἐπισήμῳ ("with distinction") in Romans 16:7 is the crux of whether Junia was an apostle. Comprehensive surveys of ancient literature show that episēmos + en + group regularly means "outstanding within the group," not "known to the group." The egalitarian conclusion: Romans 16:7 identifies Junia as a female apostle, and complementarian attempts to read her out of the apostolate depend on lexicographically unsupported translations.

Michael Burer and Daniel Wallace (2001) argued that en episēmō means "with a mark/distinction known to" (exclusive: distinguished in the eyes of the apostles, not members of them). Eldon Epp, Richard Bauckham, and others responded with comprehensive surveys of ancient literature showing that episēmos + en + group regularly means "outstanding within the group," not "renowned to the group." Article 340 cites this as Burer's "chosen translation" — noting that en episēmō meaning "with a mark" (exclusive sense) is an unusual reading that goes against the weight of ancient parallels. The egalitarian conclusion is that Romans 16:7 identifies Junia as an apostle — the first named female apostle — and that complementarian attempts to read her out of the apostolate depend on lexicographically unsupported translations. See also: Ἰουνίαν, apostolos, episēmoi en tois apostolois.