Erastus of Corinth

Erastus of Corinth (Greek: Ἔραστος, Erastos), also known as Erastus of Paneas, held the political office of steward (Greek: οἰκονόμος, oikonomos), in Corinth, according to the Epistle to the Romans 16:23 of the New Testament. The office is defined as "the manager of household or of household affairs" or, in this context, "treasurer".^[1] The King James Version uses the translation "chamberlain", while the New International Version uses "director of public works". A person named Erastus mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:20 and Acts 19:22 is often taken to be the same person.

According to the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Erastus is numbered among the Seventy Disciples. He served as a deacon and steward of the Church at Jerusalem and later of Paneas in Palestine. The Church remembers St. Erastus on January 4 among the Seventy, on July 26 and on November 10.

However, researchers have also questioned whether it is even possible to conclude from the mention in the New Testament that Erastus was a Christian. According to this theory, he could also have been a wealthy patron of the church without being a believer himself.^[2]