More Evidence of the Integrity and Authenticity of the Bible

Earlier this week, I posted a blog from Delphi, Greece, where we found beautiful evidence that serves as additional corroboration the Bible is correct. In the museum there, there exists a letter from Emperor Claudius to the proconsul of Achaia, Lucius Junius Gallio, that dates back to 52 AD. This letter corroborates the facts Luke included in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 18:12-17). (Check out the pictures and article here.) However, today, we found more evidence of the integrity and authenticity of the Bible in Athens.

Scholars used two different references in the Lukan account of Acts to cast shade against the authenticity and integrity of the Bible. For years, they questioned whether or not the Bible was true based upon the fact that they did not have any outside corroboration of the proconsul Gallio nor of Erastus from Corinth.

Erastus, a very rare name, is mentioned three times in the New Testament. Here are the three references:

“So he sent into Macedonia two of those who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus, but he himself stayed in Asia for a time” (‭Acts‬ ‭19‬:‭22‬).

“Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick” (2 Tim 4:20).

“Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother” (Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭23‬).

Scoffers suggested that without proof of Erastus, Luke’s story could not be true.

Thankfully, all of that changed in 1929 (and later studied in 1947) when archaeologist T.L. Shear accidentally uncovered what is now called the Erastus inscription in Corinth. The inscription is carved into limestone block with seven-inch-tall letters. The limestone block helps make up a paved public sidewalk near the theater of Corinth, just down the hill from the city’s center. The inscription reads:

Erastus in return for his aedileship paved it at his own expense.

Essentially, it reads that the paved road was provided as a thank you gift for the citizenry providing him his job as the aedileship or treasurer of Corinth – exactly what Paul called him in Romans 16:23.

Can we say that this is the exact person referred to by Paul with absolute certainty? No. However, it is incredible evidence not simply suggesting he lived but also calling him by name and title on a stone dating back to the first century.

I hope you are encouraged as you contemplate this – additional corroboration of what the Bible has said since Paul wrote Romans and Timothy, and when Luke wrote Acts. Praise the Lord.

Archaeological Site of Ancient Corinth

The Erastus Inscription – upside down for a better picture but it is upside down.

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