This book is a historical detective story written by speech writer and journalist, Rena Pederson. Her subject is Junia, an apostle whose story has been lost because her name was changed in church literature to make her appear as a man.
First, I want to say I loved the introduction to the book which shows that there is a split between modern day English Bible translations on the spelling of the name Junia. Junia, of course, is the female version of the name while Junius is the male version in Greek. This subject is not a new one for scholars, but it is not something that gets a lot of attention in church circles.
This is her opening as she discusses church history, particularly in regards to women's issues. She is able to describe the dynamic life of the early church where both men and women held positions of leadership and worked together.
As you read the book, you are introduced to a number of related issues that come back to the search for Junia. Who was in the apostle club (chapter 2)?Was the 'lady in red' an Apostle (chapter 3)? What about Thecla (chapter 4)? What was in Paul's letter (chapter 5)? How did Junia get lost(chapter 6)? Which Bible can you believe (chapter 7)? She finishes the book with (chapter 9) the saints that were left behind and (chapter 10) finding Junia.
How does this book measure up? Quite well. It is well written and accessible for those who are not as interested in women's issues from a scholarly point of view. It is very readable and full of church history in a story format. That alone is worth the price of the book.
As well, she writes as someone searching for her own place as part of the body of Christ, as well as this search for Junia, an apostle lost in time. Along the way, we see a modern woman who sees the beauty of the early church, struggles with church history, but ultimately finds God in all her detective work. She, along with the rest of us, is gloriously ruined by church history, but ultimately redeemed by Christ.
First, I want to say I loved the introduction to the book which shows that there is a split between modern day English Bible translations on the spelling of the name Junia. Junia, of course, is the female version of the name while Junius is the male version in Greek. This subject is not a new one for scholars, but it is not something that gets a lot of attention in church circles.
This is her opening as she discusses church history, particularly in regards to women's issues. She is able to describe the dynamic life of the early church where both men and women held positions of leadership and worked together.
As you read the book, you are introduced to a number of related issues that come back to the search for Junia. Who was in the apostle club (chapter 2)?Was the 'lady in red' an Apostle (chapter 3)? What about Thecla (chapter 4)? What was in Paul's letter (chapter 5)? How did Junia get lost(chapter 6)? Which Bible can you believe (chapter 7)? She finishes the book with (chapter 9) the saints that were left behind and (chapter 10) finding Junia.
How does this book measure up? Quite well. It is well written and accessible for those who are not as interested in women's issues from a scholarly point of view. It is very readable and full of church history in a story format. That alone is worth the price of the book.
As well, she writes as someone searching for her own place as part of the body of Christ, as well as this search for Junia, an apostle lost in time. Along the way, we see a modern woman who sees the beauty of the early church, struggles with church history, but ultimately finds God in all her detective work. She, along with the rest of us, is gloriously ruined by church history, but ultimately redeemed by Christ.
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