Apostles: Are There Female Apostles?
- Elaine R Kelly
- May 6
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
The term "apostle" means "one who is sent". It commonly means one whom Jesus sends to spread God's word. The word "apostle" is neither male nor female. While many Christians would not use the term for women in the Bible and the early church, I intend to show that they have earned that title.
In my novel Finding Her Voice, from Broken to Bold: A Novel of the Earliest Female Apostles, I shine the light on several female apostles: Junia, Susannah, Mary Magdalene, and Mariamne, the sister of Apostle Philip. This is article 1 of 5 articles on female apostles in the Bible and the early church.
Who is an Apostle: introduction
Apostle Junia's Missionary Journeys
Jesus Personally Sent Out Twelve Men Plus Paul as Apostles
The Roman Catholic tradition (and some Protestants) recognize only these men commissioned by Jesus as apostles:
The Twelve (except: not Judas Iscariot and not Matthias, his replacement)
Paul: he says he is an apostle that Jesus commissioned (1 Corinthians 15:8)
The idea of apostolic succession is that all teaching and preaching must be consistent with that of the apostolic authorities (church overseers). The authority of these apostles is passed to bishops through the laying on of hands in a continuous line from their predecessors. The authority to ordain ministers and lead the church comes from the unbroken line of succession from the original apostles ordained by Jesus. Those commissioned by people to teach or preach must submit to the authority of apostles commissioned by Jesus (or their apostolic successor). Catholics teach that the Pope has authority as the direct apostolic successor to the Apostle Peter, the ultimate authority of the church. They believe that since the bishop of Rome (the Pope) is first among equals because he has apostolic succession from Peter.
The Orthodox Church supports each bishop having authority over their own jurisdiction, denying the idea that the Roman bishop has primacy over other bishops. The bishop of Antioch, for example, also claims apostolic succession from Peter.
Jesus Personally Sent Out Women as Apostles
If an apostle is one Jesus commissions and sends out, there are many women in the Bible who fit the definition of an apostle. Churches traditionally do not call these women apostles, perhaps because it would mean acknowledging that Jesus ordained these women to speak publicly. Non-canonical texts provide the names of some of the women whom the canonical gospel writers leave unnamed. However, the biblical record recognizes women sent out by Jesus as apostles (both named and unnamed):
Photini: the woman at the well is the first one Jesus reveals himself to, and he tells her to spread the word (John 4:16-30)
Jesus sent out 70 or 72 apostles and sent them out in pairs, possibly male-female pairs, because more workers were needed for the fields that were ready for harvest (Luke 10:1-2, John 4:35). Jesus sent out these apostles with the power to heall, teach, and drive out demons (Luke 10:9, 17). Even though these people are personally sent out by Jesus, meeting the definition of the word apostle, the Catholic church refers to them as disciples. Most historic traditions portray them as being all men.
Junia: Paul calls her an outstanding apostle (Romans 16:7). Since Junia was in Christ before Paul and is the Latin version of the name Joanna, she may be the same individual as Joanna (Luke 8:1-3, Luke 24:9-10)
Mary Magdalene: Jesus sends Mary to tell the brothers he has risen (John 20:17).
Mary Magdalene, the other Mary (Matthew 28:1, 8-10)
Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and "the other women" were commissioned by angels to tell the men and women that Jesus rose (Luke 24:9-10).
Susannah, a patron and disciple with Mary Magdalene and Joanna (Luke 8:1-3). She was likely one of the "many women" disciples and patrons who followed Jesus from Galilee (Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49, John 19:25).
Mariamne, the sister of Philip, is named in ancient non-canonical texts and was likely also one of the "many women" disciples and patrons who followed Jesus from Galilee. Some of these women would surely have been at the Last Supper when Jesus told them that they would do the works Jesus did and even greater works (John 14:12).
Peter's Wife (traditionally named Perpetua) travelled as Peter's co-worker (1 Corinthians 9:5) after following him as a disciple (Matthew 8:14-15)
Apphia (Philemon 1:2), Paul calls her "our sister" in the same way that he calls Timothy "our brother"; Paul seems to treat Apphia as a co-worker who may influence Philemon to free the runaway slave, Onesimus.
Jesus appeared to over 500 women and men at once, and Paul calls them all apostles (1 Corinthians 15:6-7); Jesus likely gave them all the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19): to make disciples, baptize, and teach.
Protestants usually do not call these women apostles, despite the Bible's description of Jesus personally commissioning or sending out these women to work signs, preach and teach. I have seen leading Protestants call these women "quasi-apostles", "small 'a' apostles," delegates, assistants, helpers, or evangelists working under the authority of a male apostle.
Some portray Junia as being under Paul's apostolic authority. However, since she was in Christ before Paul and was directly commissioned by Jesus before Paul was a follower of Christ, it would seem to me that Junia has her own apostolic authority. Those who believed a woman could not be equal to a man concluded that a woman could not be an Apostle, and translated Romans 16:7 by changing the female name "Junia" to a non-existent male name, "Junias". This incorrect translation shifted gradually starting in the sixth century and persisted until it was corrected in the 20th century, and Junia was recognized as female.
The Catholic Church historically discredited Mary Magdalene, conflating her with the sinful woman (prostitute) of Luke 7, providing her as an example of a sinful but penitent woman, and generally removing references to her as a devoted and insightful disciple and apostle. The Dominican Order in the Catholic Church taught that Mary Magdalene was never a prostitute. Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican, called Mary Magdalene "Apostle to the Apostles" in his Lectura super Ioannis around 1272, shortly before he died. The Catholic Church largely discounted his writings during his life, but in 1323, they called him a saint. However, the Catholic Church did not recognize Mary Magdalene as an Apostle to the Apostles until 2016.
Protestants, Catholics and Orthodox traditions all avoid calling these women "apostles". However, the Orthodox Church recognizes women in the Bible like Mary Magdalene, Photini, and Apphia as "equal to the apostles".
Early Churches Sent Out Women and Men as Apostles
The Bible also gives the title "apostle" to some who were not sent out by Jesus:
Barnabas (Acts 11:22 sent by Jerusalem elders, Acts 13:2-3 sent by Antioch elders, Acts 14:14 together with Paul)
Silas (Acts 15:40, chosen by Paul, 1 Thessalonians 2:7 together with Paul)
John Mark (Acts 13:5, apostle's assistant, Acts 15:39, chosen by Barnabas), Peter's disciple, an Evangelist and Gospel-writer
Timothy (2 Timothy 1:6, 1 Thessalonians 2:7), sent by Paul
Apollos (1 Corinthians 3:4-5), sent by a congregation in Alexandria
Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), sent by Paul
Titus (Titus 1:4-5), sent by Paul
The Orthodox Church tradition recognizes apostolic succession, where the authority of the apostles is passed to bishops. However, while Roman Catholicism emphasizes the historical connection with the twelve apostles, Eastern Orthodoxy also considers doctrines and communion with other bishops as signs to validate apostolic succession. This difference means the Orthodox Church recognizes apostolic succession from a larger group of apostles. For example, John Mark was not sent out by Jesus, but he is considered to have apostolic authority, and the Bishop of Alexandria is John Mark's apostolic successor. Similarly, the Archbishop of Cyprus is the apostolic successor to Barnabas.
Ancient Texts Show Churches Sent Out Women and Men as Apostles
Some ancient manuscripts and art show churches ordained women to preach, teach, and officiate baptism and communion. However, since the Catholic church has historically opposed women in these roles, the church has discredited these ancient texts and excluded them from the Bible.
When the Protestants broke from the Catholic Church, they made an effort to destroy art and manuscripts that praised women in ministry, citing them as idols. In addition, as Protestants eliminated references to saints as being unbiblical, they erased the stories of many ancient female evangelists and apostles.
The Orthodox church has historically opposed women preaching, teaching, and officiating sacraments and uses the title "Equal to the Apostles" to recognize women and men who significantly spread God's word but are not part of "The Twelve Plus Paul".
Nino of Iberia: Equal to the Apostles, Enlightener of Georgia
Helena of Constantinople, Equal to the Apostles, mother of Constantine the Great, travelled as an evangelist.
Thecla: Equal to the Apostles and Protomartyr, a Woman from Iconium who travelled and preached with Apostle Paul.
Theoclia, mother of Thecla, is pictured below with Paul in a sixth-century Fresco from the Cave of St. Paul near ancient Ephesus. The art indicates their equal importance and equal authority by showing them the same height and each with their right hand raised in a teaching gesture. A later vandal scratched out her eyes and hands.
In the sixth century, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I commissioned mosaics of himself and his wife, Empress Theodora, in the Church of San Vitale in Italy. Theodora is called an "episcopal", which means "bishop". Justinian and Theodora are portrayed as co-regents of the church and the empire. She is pictured with a halo, crown and jewels, wearing a purple robe, and followed by court women and eunuchs. Theodora carries the vessel for the blood of Holy Communion, and on the mosaic of Justinian, he carries a golden bowl holding the bread of Communion.
Elaine Ricker Kelly Author is empowering women with historical fiction about women in the Bible and early church and Christian blogs about women in leadership, church history and doctrine. Her books include:
Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold, Book 1, A Novel (2022)
The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role (2023)
Because She Was Called from Broken to Bold, Book 2, A Novel of the Early Church (2024)
Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey: 21 Steps to Emotional Resilience (2024)
Finding Her Voice from Broken to Bold, Book 3, A Novel of the Earliest Female Apostles (coming October 2025)
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