ERASTUS ĭ răs’ təs (̓́Εραστος, G2235, beloved). A common Gr. name, occurring in the NT on three distinct occasions as a companion of Paul. 1. An assistant, sent with Timothy from Ephesus into Macedonia on an errand (Acts 19:22).

2. The “city treasurer” (οἰκονόμος, G3874) of Corinth who sent greetings to the Christians in Rome (Rom 16:23). He was the steward or manager of the property or financial affairs of the city. Such officials were generally slaves or freedmen, though often wealthy. In 1929, archeologists uncovered at Corinth a Lat. inscr. reading, “Erastus, commissioner for public works [aedile], laid this pavement at his own expense.” That he was the Erastus of Romans is possible, but not probable. That he is to be identified with Paul’s companion of Acts 19:22 is highly improbable, although the identification has been advocated.

3. Paul’s travel companion left behind at Corinth (2 Tim 4:20) mentioned without identification. He was Paul’s well-known assistant. See 1 above.

It is uncertain whether any two of these men, or all three, are identical.

Bibliography For the inscr. see H. J. Cadbury, JBL, L (1931), 42-58; W. Miller, BS, 88 (1931), 342-346. For the identification, H. P. Liddon, Explanatory Analysis of St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (1893), 304; G. S. Duncan, St. Paul’s Ephesian Ministry (1929), 79ff.; R. C. H. Lenski, Interpretation of the Acts of the Apostles (1936), 926.