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Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Some Christians are well known for their service in the church.<\/p>\n The word \u201ccountrymen<\/span>\u201d is translated from sungen\u0113s<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether\u201d and genos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201coffspring, family, or nation.\u201d This word can be used to imply a family member (a relative) or someone with the same ethnic roots.<\/p>\n \u201cFellow prisoners<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek noun sunaichmal\u014dtos<\/em><\/span>, a double compound word made up of sun<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ctogether,\u201d eichm\u0113<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca spear,\u201d and a form of hal\u014dtos<\/em>, meaning \u201cto be conquered or taken captive.\u201d Sunaichmal\u014dtos<\/em> <\/span>refers to anyone who has been imprisoned with someone else.<\/p>\n The words \u201cof note<\/span>\u201d come from the Greek word epis\u0113mos<\/em><\/span>, which is made up of epi<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cupon\u201d and s\u0113ma<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201ca mark or a sign.\u201d So, literally this means someone who has \u201ca mark upon them.\u201d In a good sense this word implies being \u201cwell thought of or distinguished.\u201d In a bad sense this word refers to someone who is \u201cnotorious.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul now extends a greeting to Andronicus and Junia. Although Junia is a name that can be given to a man or a woman, it is most likely that these two were both men. Though this translation refers to them as countrymen (fellow Jews) it is likely that they were more closely related to Paul than just descendants of Israel. A number of the people to whom Paul sends greetings have Jewish names, yet only these two are referred to as sungen\u0113s<\/em><\/span>. Therefore, it is likely that Andronicus and Junia were family relatives of Paul.<\/p>\n He tells us that they were imprisoned with him, although he doesn\u2019t say when or where. Given that Paul was frequently imprisoned, it is difficult to speculate on which occasion they were imprisoned with him. What is of note is that Paul only refers to two other \u201cfellow prisoners\u201d in all his writing:<\/p>\n Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, <\/span>(Philemon 1:23<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you \u2026<\/span> (Colossians 4:10a<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Paul tells us that Andronicus and Junia were well thought of among the apostles. He is not saying that these two were apostles, but that they were well thought of by those who were true apostles of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n Finally, we are told that these two were believers in Jesus Christ as the Messiah before Paul was. It is likely that they were among the earliest converts among the Jews and became known to the apostles in Jerusalem before the martyrdom of Stephen and the ensuing dispersion of Christians from Jerusalem.<\/p>\n Andronicus and Junia were well known among the leaders of the early church, probably because of their testimonies and their service in the church. What do the leaders of your church say about you? If asked, would they say that you are \u201cof note\u201d within your church, or do they even know who you are?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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