Erastus
“Beloved”
Summary
A companion of Paul who served as city treasurer of Corinth, sent on a mission to Macedonia, and remained at Corinth during Paul's final journey.
☩Identity and References
The name Erastus appears three times in the New Testament, and scholars debate whether one, two, or three individuals are meant. In Acts 19:22, Erastus was sent with Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia while Paul remained in Asia. In Romans 16:23, 'Erastus the treasurer of the city' (of Corinth) sends greetings to Rome. In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul notes that 'Erastus remained at Corinth.' Some scholars think the city treasurer would have been too occupied with civic duties for missionary travel, while others suggest he may have resigned his office to serve Christ.
☩Significance
If the treasurer and Paul's companion are the same person, his conversion marks the remarkable success of Paul's labors in Corinth—reaching even prominent civic officials. An inscription discovered at Corinth reading 'Erastus, commissioner of public works, laid this pavement at his own expense' may refer to this same individual, providing rare archaeological corroboration of a New Testament figure. According to Greek Church tradition, he was first treasurer to the church at Jerusalem and afterwards bishop of Paneas.
References
- 1.Unknown source, "Erastus."
- 2.George Morrish, "Erastus," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 3.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Erastus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).