Dictionary Home / E

Erastus

biblical_person theological_term standard

Erastus is a New Testament man associated with Paul’s ministry. One passage also describes an Erastus as a city official in Corinth, though Scripture does not explicitly say whether all the references are to the same person.

At a Glance

A New Testament man named Erastus who is associated with Paul and, in one text, with a civic office in Corinth.

Key Points

Description

Erastus is mentioned three times in the New Testament. In Acts 19:22, Paul sends Timothy and Erastus ahead into Macedonia. In Romans 16:23, Paul includes greetings from Erastus, described as the city treasurer or a similar municipal officer, likely in Corinth. In 2 Timothy 4:20, Paul says that Erastus remained at Corinth. These references show that a man named Erastus was connected with Paul’s ministry and that at least one Erastus held a recognized civic role. Some readers conclude that all three passages refer to the same man, while others judge that the evidence is not decisive. The safest conclusion is that Erastus was an associate of Paul and, in one reference, a public official in Corinth.

Biblical Context

Erastus appears in passages tied to Paul’s missionary work and letters. Acts presents him as one of Paul’s travel companions. Romans includes his greeting among the believers, and 2 Timothy places him at Corinth when Paul wrote from later imprisonment.

Historical Context

The reference in Romans 16:23 suggests that Erastus held an important civic post in Corinth, commonly translated as city treasurer or city official. Such an office would indicate social standing and public responsibility in a Roman city.

Jewish and Ancient Context

Erastus is a Greek name, fitting the mixed Greco-Roman world of the Pauline mission. The New Testament preserves the name as part of the ordinary historical setting of first-century urban ministry rather than as a title or symbolic figure.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

The name is rendered from the Greek Ἔραστος (Erastos). It is a personal name, not a title.

Theological Significance

Erastus is a minor but useful historical witness to the real-world setting of Paul’s ministry. His mentions reinforce the concreteness of the New Testament letters and the wide social reach of the early church.

Philosophical Explanation

Erastus is best understood as a historical person named in the text, not as a concept to be interpreted symbolically.

Interpretive Cautions

The Bible does not explicitly say whether the Erastus of Acts 19:22, Romans 16:23, and 2 Timothy 4:20 is the same man in each case. Also, the office described in Romans 16:23 is translated a little differently across versions, so the exact civic title should be stated modestly.

Major Views

Most interpreters accept that Erastus was a real associate of Paul and that Romans 16:23 refers to a Corinthian civic official. Many think the three New Testament references likely point to the same man, but the identification remains probable rather than certain.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Erastus is a historical person, not a doctrinal category. No major doctrine depends on identifying him with certainty across all passages.

Practical Significance

Erastus reminds readers that the gospel advanced through real people in ordinary public life. His example also shows that believers may serve Christ faithfully from positions of social or civic responsibility.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Erastus

↑ Top