← Research & Evidence
Contested claim
Does the Corinth “Erastus” pavement name the biblical Erastus?
DisputedThe stone is real; the identification with Romans 16:23 is unproven.
Romans 16:23
The claim
A Latin pavement in Corinth naming an Erastus who laid it at his own expense is the Erastus of Romans 16:23.
Evidence presented
A mid-first-century pavement inscription at Corinth names an “Erastus” who held the aedileship; some identify him with Paul’s associate.
Alternative explanation
The identification is debated: the titles differ (aedile vs. the “oikonomos”/treasurer of Romans), “Erastus” was a common name, and the dating is contested. Plausible, not established.
Peer-review status
Disputed identification.
Archaeological status
A genuine inscription; the link to the biblical Erastus is an interpretation.
What would establish the claim
- An inscription matching the biblical title/role
- Independent corroboration
Sources & further reading
- J. H. Kent, Corinth VIII.3: The Inscriptions, 1926–1950 (Princeton: American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1966) — the excavation corpus publishing the pavement excavation corpus (print; not linked)
- Erastus of Corinth — background on the identification debate tertiary reference
This verdict is about the specific historical or scientific claim — not a judgment about faith or the meaning of the text.
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