El Padre de la Iglesia y la mujer apóstol: (Pseudo)Epifanio de Salamina y su interpretación de Rm 16,7

Abstract

Since the beginning of the modern debate about the gender and apostolicity of Jimia (Rm 16,7), numerous interpreters have resorted to the patristic interpreta­ tion of the passage to determine its meaning, leaving aside even the philological analysis of the New Testament Greek text. Detractors of Junia's feminine gender have appealed to the statement of Epiphanius of Salamis (c. 315-403) in his Index Disciyulorum, where Junia(s) is considerad to be a man and Bishop of Apameia. This statement is regarded as historically reliable and proof that Junia was not a female apostle. Since an early Greek father like Epiphanius interpreted Romans 16,7 in this way, it is considerad to be the most likely interpretation. This research analyzes the arguments put forward by the deíenders of this position. Four conclu-sions are presented. In the first place, Epiphanius of Salamis is not the author the Index Discipidorum, but rather it is a medieval pseudo-epigraphical work. Second, the information provided by tliis work is not historically reliable, but rather ficti-tious and anachronistic in natura. Third, the work seerns to present gender biases against the inclusión of women in the circle of disciples. Finally, it is concluded that the interpreters who appeal to this argument rnake a selective use of the available evidence.