Serving

Bulletin

Dan Peters
10/13/24 - Politics

Erastus

While Paul was living in Corinth, he wrote to the church in another city (Rome). He mentions a christian in politics, Erastus, “Erastus, the city treasurer greets you,” (Romans 16:23). In the above picture is my wife’s feet next to the famous stone in Corinth (May, 2017). The Erastus inscription is a significant archaeological find in Corinth, Greece, dating back to the 1st century AD. It is a Latin inscription carved into a pavement, approximately 7 inches tall, and originally filled with bronze letters. Translated to English, it means: “Erastus, for his own aedileship, laid (the pavement) at his own expense.” John McRay says the pavement in which this inscription was found dates to before A.D. 50.” (ferrelljenkins.blog/2013/10/23/the-erastus-inscription-at-corinth/).
We do not know for sure that the Erastus mentioned in the Bible is the same Erastus who laid this pavement in stone, but it is likely.
Would a politician also be a Christian, and a helper of the Apostle Paul? Erastus is mentioned 3 times in scripture (Acts 19:22, Romans 16:23, 2Tim. 4:20), and he is called a (οἰκονόμος). This Greek word is used 10 times in the New Testament, and translated differently in different contexts. BDAG, a preeminent Greek Lexicon of the NT, defines the word as a “ 1. manager of a household or estate, (house) steward, manager… (1Cor.4:2)…2. public treasurer, treasurer… Rom. 3:23. 3. one who is entrusted with management in connection with transcendent matters, administrator “.
So Paul uses this word as he describes himself as a “steward” in 1Cor. 4:2. But in the context of the city official, it is translated “treasurer” in most translations.
“In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.” (1Cor. 4:2). A christian needs to strive to be “trustworthy” in what ever position he finds himself, especially in politics and religion. And if Erastus laid the city streets of Corinth at his own expense, it shows that he was giving and generous. These are the kind of qualities that would make him a great helper to the apostle Paul. God, the church, or even the city can use us if we are trustworthy. How do we know if we are trustworthy? Jesus told us exactly how we can know. So please do not say we just never know! “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Mat. 7:15-17). Dan Peters