Lives of Scripture

Erastus is identified in Paul's letter to the Romans, written from Corinth, as "the city treasurer" who joins Paul in sending greetings to the Roman church (Romans 16:23) -- a detail of real historical significance, since it places a man with genuine civic responsibility for Corinth's public finances among the early converts to Christianity in that city. This detail matters for understanding the makeup of the early church: rather than being drawn exclusively from society's poor or marginalized, the Corinthian congregation apparently included at least some members with real administrative standing and public trust in their city's government, alongside "not many wise... not many mighty, not many noble" that Paul elsewhere says characterized most of the church (1 Corinthians 1:26). Some archaeological findings from Corinth include an inscription naming an Erastus who served as a city aedile (a Roman civic official responsible for public works), which many scholars connect, though not with total certainty, to this same man. Paul also mentions an Erastus in his final letter, noting that he "remained at Corinth" rather than traveling on with Paul or Timothy, most likely the same figure remaining rooted in his home city and its ongoing needs, whether civic or for the church there (2 Timothy 4:20).