David Couchman
David Couchman is the Director of Focus and the producer of the 'God: new evidence' and 'God and the Big Bang' video series. More...

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Digital Evangelism blog

Erastus, the city treasurer of Corinth

Paul probably wrote his letter to the Church in Rome from Corinth in 57 AD. In the middle of a list of personal greetings at the end of the letter, he says, 'Erastus, the city treasurer, sends you his greetings...' (Romans chapter 16 verse 23).

Erastus inscription
The Erastus inscription
Image courtesy of www.HolyLandPhotos.org

Archaeologists have discovered in Corinth a block of marble in a paved square near the theater, with the Latin inscription

Erastus, commissioner of public works [aedile], laid this pavement at his own expense.

This is probably the same person Paul mentioned in his letter. (However, Erastus was a fairly common name, so it is possible that it was not the same person. This Erastus in Romans chapter 16 verse 23 is almost certainly not the same as the Erastus mentioned in Acts chapter 19 verse 22). However, once again, archaeology has shown that the Bible is talking about real people in real places.

Back to 'Real people: real places'