Apostles: Are There Female Apostles?
- Elaine R Kelly
- May 6
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 9
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, my novel shows how they may 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
Apostle Susannah as a Spiritual Spokesperson, Mother and Prophet
Who Are the Apostles Sent by Jesus?
A) Twelve Men Plus Paul
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 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 bishop of Antioch also claims apostolic succession from Peter, and the Bible shows that Peter went to Antioch (Galatians 2:11).
The Orthodox Church supports each bishop having authority over their own jurisdiction, denying the idea that the Roman bishop has primacy over other bishops. T
B) Many Women
Since the word "Apostle" means "one who is sent" or, specifically, someone Jesus personally commissioned to go out and spread the word, there are many women in the Bible who were apostles. 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). Jesus may have commissioned her directly (Matthew 28:10).
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). Jesus may have commissioned her directly (Matthew 28:10).
Peter's Wife (traditionally named Perpetua) followed Jesus as a disciple (Matthew 8:14-15) and later travelled as Peter's co-worker and apostle (1 Corinthians 9:5) after
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. The Orthodox Church recognizes women as "equal to the apostles", but not actual apostles.
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. Early church father John Chrysostom commented on Romans 16:7 that Junia must have been great as both a woman and an apostle. Translators who began with the premise that a woman could not be equal to a man concluded that a woman could not be an Apostle. For this reason, Romans 16:7 was often mistranslated by changing the female name "Junia" to a non-existent male name, "Junias". This incorrect translation shifted gradually starting in the sixth century. In the 20th century, theologians recognized the mistranslation and corrected the name to a female name, Junia. Knowing it is a female, those who begin with the premise that a woman could not be an apostle interpret this verse to say that Junia was well known to the apostles, but she, herself, was not an apostle.
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.
Who Was Called an Apostle by the Early Church?
A) Men are called "Apostle" in the Bible, even though they 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
Both the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox Church traditions recognize apostolic succession, where the authority of the apostles is passed to bishops. However, while Roman Catholicism emphasizes the historical connection with the twelve apostles, the Eastern 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.
B) Women are called "Apostle" in Ancient Texts that were Excluded from the Bible
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".
Mariamne, according to the Acts of Philip
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.
Irene of Macedonia
Thecla: Equal to the Apostles and Protomartyr, a Woman from Iconium who travelled and preached with Apostle Paul, according to the Acts of Paul and Thecla.
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.
Conclusion
Do women meet the definition of an apostle?
✅"one who is sent". Yes, women were sent.
✅ "commissioned by Jesus to spread God's word". Yes, the Samaritan woman at the well, Mary Magdalene, the women of Matthew 28:9-10, and Junia are biblical examples of women apostles commissioned by Jesus.
✅ "an important Christian teacher, missionary or evangelist." Yes, Mariamne (the sister of Philip), Thecla, Irene of Macedonia, and Nino of Iberia were early apostles who taught, preached, performed healing signs, and baptized people into Christianity.
Do LGBTQ+ people meet the definition of an apostle?
✅The Bible identifies an Ethiopian eunuch, who was considered neither male nor female, baptized into the church (Acts 8). In addition, all the friends of Cornelius the centurion, likely including male soldiers, were baptized by the Spirit and by the apostles (Acts 10).
✅Jesus acknowledges that some people are born and created to be eunuchs, neither male nor female, not heterosexually oriented (Matthew 19).
✅ Ancient historical records do not identify the sexual orientation of past heroes, and it is reasonable that the population of the first century, like today, was up to 5% LGBTQ+. My fiction represents this population as welcomed and belonging in the early church.
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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