Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding to the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
Here is an online translation from the Greek Textus Receptus. "Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who were in Christ before me."
I also used an online translator on another Greek text and it came up with the same translation. So Junia was an Apostle. The question is, what about Mary Magdalene? In the Gospel of Philip and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, both are written that Yahusha Hamashia loved Mary Magdalene more than the 12 disciples. As I said before in another blog, an Apostle is, "Apostle comes from the Ancient Greek word apóstolos, which means "messenger," "envoy," or "emissary" an official representative sent with the authority to act and speak on behalf of", in this case, Yahusha Hamashia.
Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her. John 20:17-18
By definition Mary Magdalene was an Apostle. She was the first Apostle. However the Apostle Peter was key in the foundation of the church but not the cornerstone of the church. The cornerstone is Yahusha Hamashia.
So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone. Ephesians 2:19-20
Note that the church today is listed with the Saints, built upon the foundation of Apostles, Prophets and Yahusha Hamashia. Notice the order that they are listed. The first stone set in place is the cornerstone. Upon that the Prophets are set in place followed by the Apostles.
The question is, why does the church of today have rules against female messengers of the Bible? I quote the answer given online. "Churches restrict women from holding certain authoritative teaching or leadership roles based on specific New Testament passages and traditional interpretations of creation order."
Here are the verses given and my response. Interestingly enough, it was the Apostle Paul that wrote the letters people use against females in ministry.
1 Timothy 2:9-15; Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, with modesty and self-restraint, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women professing godliness. A woman must learn in quietness, in all submission. But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first formed, and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into trespass. But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint.
If you confront an unsaved woman with these verses she will reject you for pointing them out to her and have a false idea about the Bible. The church grabbed these verses and used them out of context. They also used these verses to invalidate Paul who wrote this and invalidate Yahusha Hamashia for asking Mary Magdalene to be an Apostle to the disciples. Yahuah Elohiym did not tell a woman to submit to every man just because she is a woman.
Notice Paul said self control not controlled by men. People read, "not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly clothing," and then hold it up like the verse ended there. But it didn't end there. Paul goes on to say, "but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women professing godliness." Good works doesn't cover the flesh. There's a deeper meaning than the style of clothing. Paul was saying to focus on the spiritual not making her body attractive to people. You could say something similar about men. Something like not be prideful about their three piece suits and gold watches, but with good works. A suit has its place as does braided hair. I find no fault with a woman with braided hair and expensive clothing as long as she has a relationship with Yahusha Hamashia. If she buys expensive clothing on credit and not pay it back, then that is her problem and her spouse.
"But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet."
This doesn't give a man authority over every woman. Yahuah Elohiym said not worship other gods. Yahusha Hamashia said not to call anyone father, priest or teacher. If you take away the title, you take away the Authority. Telling Mary Magdalene to be quiet would be like telling Yahusha Hamashia that His message is not valid because it came from a woman's mouth. What did Paul say by women needing to be quiet and not having authority over a man? He brought up Adam and Eve and how Eve was deceived. The issue is that women tend to be sidetracked while men can only have one thought in his mind at a time. When a woman asks a man to do three things at that same moment, a man will say I can only do one thing at a time.
"But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint."
A woman with no children can be saved also. But Faith and Love is key to having a relationship with Yahusha Hamashia. Saying that a woman is saved by giving birth invalidates John 3:16. Yahusha Hamashia's Word can invalidate the Apostles' words.
"Sanctification with self-restraint according to the words of men doesn't save a woman so that she can enter the Kingdom of Yahusha Hamashia. Sanctification and self-restraint through through the Word of Yahusha Hamashia, our High Priest is for all people.
What did Paul mean by saying, "But she will be saved through the bearing of children, if they continue in faith and love and sanctification with self-restraint."? Child bearing is very difficult for a woman. She needs help in the process of childbirth. It is the one attending that can save the mother and child if a problem should arise. It's the person helping that also needs to continue in good faith, love and sanctification with self-restraint when she has a death grip in your hand and lasting hours into the night, you must endure with her.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35; The women are to keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
Translating this online didn't help at all. I quote, "Let your women keep silent in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak, but to be in subjection, as also the law saith."
This is not a New Testament Commandment. We are told not to add anymore laws upon what Yahusha Hamashia declared. Adding more controversial laws doesn't help. The word in question here is subjection. Why should women need to be in subjection and not men? Can men be lawless in church? Absolutely not. What if the husband is clueless? Should a woman seek wisdom from a fool? What if the husband hates church? Should the woman then hate Yahusha Hamashia called Jesus Christ? Absolutely not. So what did Paul mean when he said this. How can a woman be an Apostle and not be allowed to speak in church?
What we need to know is, I quote, "Corinthian services were chaotic, with people interrupting to question prophecies or shout across segregated seating areas. Paul tells noisy learners to save their questions for home so they do not disrupt the service." It was a temporary instruction, not a New Testament Commandment.
I will not speak on how to act in a church setting. It's a problem I am not called to address. However perhaps we can learn more studying Eve.
Then Yahuah Elohiym said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.” Genesis 2:18
Helper is the Hebrew word ʿēzer. It is a masculine noun. This doesn't say Eve was a Steve. Eve was given I title that is a masculine noun. The Assembly of Believers is a body are feminine including the men. Men and women have the title Son of Yahuah Elohiym. We can find ʿēzer in other verses like Psalm 33:20.
"Our soul is patient for Yahuah; He is our help and our shield."
Eve had the same title as Yahuah when she was created. Today we have many nasty old grannies ready to slice you to bits verbally. But Eve was made to rush to answer the urgent cry of Adam and to rescue him. Some jobs are to big for one person.
The Hebrew letters tell a story when read together. Ayin Zayin Resh is to say experience the Word/rest of the Head. With Eve at Adam's side, he didn't need to think about everything 24/7. The Husband should be patient with his wife. She is his help a shield. She should have his back, watching out for incoming difficulties. When you completely dominate a person, the lack of their free will blinds them to the difficulties they could manage on their own. It also blinds them to the sins of the narcissist that is manipulating them.
Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails, but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
There will be a time when everything will be revealed and there will be no need for a Prophet, no need for translators because everyone will speak the language of Heaven, no need for Information online because Heaven is our source. In other words pride will die and Love and Truth brings in Freedom.
