7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Israelites who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.
The name that by some English 20th century translations was transliterated as “Junias” but is now widely recognized as a female name and typically transliterated as “Junia” is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) as a male name with a combinations of the signs for “young man” (which is assumed to be the meaning of the name) and “3” (because Junias was one of three prisoners along with Paul and Andronicus). (Source: Missão Kophós )
This is likely a reflection of the majority of Portuguese Bible translations that with some exceptions (Versão Fácil de Ler 1999, Nova Tradução na Linguagem de Hoje 2000, Almeida Revista e Corrigida 2009, Nova Versão Internacional 2023) use the male form Júnias rather than the female Júnia.
The Greek term that means “one who is sent off” in its singular form and is usually transliterated as “apostle(s)” in English is (back-) translated in the following ways:
San Blas Kuna: “witnesses to God” (meaning “those who speak up and out for God” (source for this and all above: Bratcher / Nida, except Balanta-Kentohe: Rob Koops)
Mairasi: sasiri atatuemnev nesovnaa or “sent witnesses” (source: Enggavoter 2004)
Khmer: Christtout (“messenger representing Christ”) or when Jesus addresses them: Tout robas Preah Ang (“his messengers-representatives”) (source: Joseph Hong in The Bible Translator 1996, p. 233ff. )
Pwo Karen: “eyeballs” (i.e., “right-hand men”) (source: David Clark)
Chicahuaxtla Triqui: “one who goes about preaching the good word” (source for this and above: Waterhouse / Parrott in Notes on Translation October 1967, p. 1ff.)
Noongar: Moorta Ngany Waangki-Koorl or “People I (Jesus) Send” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Ayutla Mixtec: “those who bore the word of God’s mouth”
Chichimeca-Jonaz: “elders messengers” (source for this and above: Viola Waterhouse in Notes on Translation August 1966, p. 86ff.)
Yakan: “commissioned ones” (source: Yakan Back Translation) — note that Scot McKnight in the EnglishThe Second Testament (publ. 2023) translates it as commissioners
Tenango Otomi: “(Jesus’) representatives” (source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
Tsamakko: “ones-who-work-for-Christ” (source: Chris Pluger)
Scot McKnight (in The Second Testament, publ. 2023) translates it into English as commissioner.
In American Sign Language it is translated with a combination of the signs for “following” plus the sign for “authority” to differentiate it from disciple. (Source: Ruth Anna Spooner, Ron Lawer)
“apostles” in American Sign Language, source: Deaf Harbor
In Hungarian Sign Language it is translated with a sign that shows the shape of the beard, based on the common and general visual representation of the apostles. This sign differs from the sign for a beard as used in colloquial language. The sign of the apostle does not originate from a specific biblical verse, but rather from the cultural context and later ecclesiastical tradition. “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.” Lev 19:27. In the biblical era, wearing a beard was the default social and religious norm among Jewish men. The Apostle Peter is generally depicted with a short, curly, white beard. The Apostle Paul appears with a longer, pointed beard. The Apostle John is an exception, as he was the youngest disciple. In iconography, he is often the only one painted without a beard (as a youth) to emphasize his purity and age (see for instance at Transfiguration (icon)). (Source: Jenjelvi Biblia and HSL Bible Translation Group)
The name that is transliterated as “Andronicus” in English is translated in Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) with a sign that combines “achieve” and “victory” as well as “man.” This reflects the meaning of the name: “man of victory.” (Source: Missão Kophós )
Following are a number of back-translations of Romans 16:7:
Uma: “Also announce my greetings to Andronikus and Yunias. They are my fellow Jewish relatives, and they also were once imprisoned together with me. All the apostles [messengers] of the Lord Yesus honor them. They have believed in the Lord Yesus a long time. Before I believe in the Lord Yesus, they already believed.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
Yakan: “Tell Andaronik and Juniyas also that I remember them. They are my fellow Yahudi and we (excl.) were imprisoned before at the same time/together. They are well known to the ones commissioned by Isa Almasi. They trusted Isa Almasi ahead of me.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “And greet also Andronicus and Junias; they are my fellow Jews who were imprisoned with me. They are respected by the apostles and they believed in Christ before I did.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Kankanaey: “I also send-greetings-to Andronicus and Junias who are my fellow Jews who were my fellow prisoners back then. They are well-known (lit. newsed) apostles who preceded me in believing.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
Tenango Otomi: “Also my fellow countrymen Andronicus and Junias please greet for me. These were in jail with me. They are well known to Christ’s representatives and they believed in Christ before I did.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)
The Greek Christos (Χρηστός) is typically transliterated when it appears together with Iésous (Ἰησοῦς) (Jesus). In English the transliteration is the Anglicized “Christ,” whereas in many other languages it is based on the Greek or Latin as “Kristus,” “Cristo,” or similar.
When used as a descriptive term in the New Testament — as it’s typically done in the gospels (with the possible exceptions of for instance John 1:17 and 17:3) — Christos is seen as the Greek translation of the Hebrew mashiaḥ (המשיח) (“anointed”). Accordingly, a transliteration of mashiaḥ is used, either as “Messiah” or based on the Greek or Latin as a form of “Messias.”
This transliteration is also used in the two instances where the Greek term Μεσσίας (Messias) is used in John 1:41 and 4:25.
In some languages and some translations, the term “Messiah” is supplemented with an explanation. Such as in the GermanGute Nachricht with “the Messiah, the promised savior” (Wir haben den Messias gefunden, den versprochenen Retter) or in Muna with “Messiah, the Saving King” (Mesias, Omputo Fosalamatino) (source: René van den Berg).
In predominantly Muslim areas or for Bible translations for a Muslim target group, Christos is usually transliterated from the Arabic al-Masih (ٱلْمَسِيحِ) — “Messiah.” In most cases, this practice corresponds with languages that also use a form of the Arabic Isa (عيسى) for Jesus (see Jesus). There are some exceptions, though, including modern translations in Arabic which use Yasua (يَسُوعَ) (coming from the Aramaic Yēšūa’) alongside a transliteration of al-Masih, Hausa which uses Yesu but Almahisu, and some Fula languages (Adamawa Fulfulde, Nigerian Fulfulde, and Central-Eastern Niger Fulfulde) which also use a form of Iésous (Yeesu) but Almasiihu (or Almasiifu) for Christos.
In Indonesian, while most Bible translations had already used Yesus Kristus rather than Isa al Masih, three public holidays used to be described using the term Isa Al Masih. From 2024 on, the government is using Yesus Kristus in those holiday names instead (see this article in Christianity Today ).
Other solutions that are used by a number of languages include these:
Dobel: “The important one that God had appointed to come” (source: Jock Hughes)
Noongar: Keny Mammarap or “The One Man” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Mairasi: “King of not dying for life all mashed out infinitely” (for “mashed out,” see salvation; source: Lloyd Peckham)
Western Bukidnon Manobo: “One chosen by God to rule mankind” (source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
Bacama: Ma Pwa a Ngɨltən: “The one God has chosen” (source: David Frank in this blog post )
Binumarien: Anutuna: originally a term that was used for a man that was blessed by elders for a task by the laying on of hands (source: Desmond Oatridges, Holzhausen 1991, p. 49f.)
Noongar: Keny Boolanga-Yira Waangki-Koorliny: “One God is Sending” (source: Warda-Kwabba Luke-Ang)
Uab Meto: Neno Anan: “Son of heaven” P. Middelkoop explains: “The idea of heavenly power bestowed on a Timorese king is rendered in the title Neno Anan. It is based on the historical fact that chiefs in general came from overseas and they who come thence are believed to have come down from heaven, from the land beyond the sea, that means the sphere of God and the ghosts of the dead. The symbolical act of anointing has been made subservient to the revelation of an eternal truth and when the term Neno Anan is used as a translation thereof, it also is made subservient to a new revelation of God in Jesus Christ. The very fact that Jesus came from heaven makes this translation hit the mark.” (Source: P. Middelkoop in The Bible Translator 1953, p. 183ff. )
In Finnish Sign Language both “Christ” and “Messiah” are translated with a sign signifying “king.” (Source: Tarja Sandholm)
“Christ / Messiah” in Finnish Sign Language (source )
Law (2013, p. 97) writes about how the Ancient GreekSeptuagint‘s translation of the Hebrew mashiah was used by the New Testament writers as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments (click or tap here to read more):
“Another important word in the New Testament that comes from the Septuagint is christos, ‘Christ.’ Christ is not part of the name of the man from Nazareth, as if ‘the Christs’ were written above the door of his family home. Rather, ‘Christ’ is an explicitly messianic title used by the writers of the New Testament who have learned this word from the Septuagint’s translation of the Hebrew mashiach, ‘anointed,’ which itself is often rendered in English as ‘Messiah.’ To be sure, one detects a messianic intent on the part of the Septuagint translator in some places. Amos 4:13 may have been one of these. In the Hebrew Bible, God ‘reveals his thoughts to mortals,’ but the Septuagint has ‘announcing his anointed to humans.’ A fine distinction must be made, however, between theology that was intended by the Septuagint translators and that developed by later Christian writers. In Amos 4:13 it is merely possible we have a messianic reading, but it is unquestionably the case that the New Testament writers exploit the Septuagint’s use of christos, in Amos and elsewhere, to messianic ends.”
Andronicus and Junias are not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament; they could easily have been husband and wife, or brother and sister.
The word translated fellow Jews (An American Translation* and New English Bible “fellow-countrymen”) is rendered by some to mean “kinsmen” (Revised Standard Version). However, it is more likely that the broader sense is to be maintained in this passage. Fellow Jews may be translated as “who are also Jews even as I am” or “who, together with me, are Jews.”
They are well known among the apostles has been understood by some to mean “the apostles know them well,” but a far more acceptable interpretation would imply that these men were counted as apostles and were well known, for example, “as apostles they are well known.”
They became Christians before I did is literally “who before me came in Christ.” The obvious meaning of this phrase is as the Good News Translation states it.
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1973. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .
Junia: There are two ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Junia :
(1) It is the Roman woman’s nameJunia, as in the Berean Standard Bible.
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version (2011), Good News Translation, New Revised Standard Version, King James Version, English Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), NET Bible, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) It is the Roman man’s nameJunias, as in the Revised Standard Version.
(Revised Standard Version, New International Version (1984), New Jerusalem Bible, New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the UBS5 supports it.
fellow countrymen: Here this word refers to people (men and women) who are Jews, like Paul. Here are other ways to translate this word:
fellow Jews (New International Version (2011))
-or-
compatriots (NET Bible)
fellow prisoners: This phrase indicates either that:
(1) Andronicus and Junia were in prison together with Paul.
(2) They were in prison for the same reason as Paul (that is, preaching the gospel), but not at the same time.
There is no record or tradition about this. If possible, translate in a way that allows both meanings, as fellow prisoners does in English. Otherwise translate following one or the other meanings. For example:
they were prisoners as I was
-or-
who were in prison with me (Good News Translation)
16:7b
They are outstanding: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as outstanding :
(1) It indicates that Andronicus and Junia were really good apostles. For example:
they are prominent (New Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) It indicates that other believers respected them as much or more than the other apostles. For example:
They are highly respected (New Living Translation (2004))
(New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version)
(3) It indicates that other believers knew of them as much as the other apostles. For example:
they are well known (Good News Translation)
(Good News Translation, English Standard Version, NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the BDAG supports the Greek word meaning “very good” in comparison to others.
among: There are several ways to interpret the Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as among :
(1) It indicates that Andronicus and Junia were apostles. For example:
among the apostles (New Revised Standard Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, New International Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Revised Edition, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Revised English Bible, New Century Version)
(2) It indicates that Andronicus and Junia were not apostles. For example:
by the apostles (Contemporary English Version)
(Contemporary English Version, English Standard Version, NET Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because Moo and other scholars say that the Greek word that is often translated “in” means among here.
apostles: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as apostles means “representatives” or “messengers.” It refers to people whom someone sends with his authority. They are sent to give a message or accomplish a particular task. Here, the word apostles refers to the original eleven plus others, like Paul, Andronicus, and Junia, to whom Jesus gave the work of apostle. See how you translated the word “apostle” in 1:1.
16:7c
they were in Christ before I was: This indicates that Andronicus and Junia believed in Jesus before Paul believed in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
became followers of Christ before I did (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
They were in Christ before me (English Standard Version)
Christ: This is a title for God’s chosen one. See how you translated it in 1:1 or 16:5.
This refers to Jesus. In some languages, including the name Jesus is more natural or more clear. For example:
Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).
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