Erastus

The name that is transliterated as “Erastus” in English means “beloved.” (Source: Cornwall / Smith 1997 )

In Libras (Brazilian Sign Language) it is translated with a sign that is reminiscent of signs such as “treasurer” or “city administrator of the city” (in reference to Romans 16:23). (Source: Missão Kophós )


“Erastus” in Libras (source )

For more information on translations of proper names with sign language see Sign Language Bible Translations Have Something to Say to Hearing Christians .

complete verse (2 Timothy 4:20)

Following are a number of back-translations of 2 Timothy 4:20:

  • Uma: “Erastus, he is still in the village of Korintus. Trofimus I left in Miletus because he was sick.” (Source: Uma Back Translation)
  • Yakan: “Erastus stayed there in Korinto. Toropimus was left by me there in Miletus because he was sick.” (Source: Yakan Back Translation)
  • Western Bukidnon Manobo: “Erastus stayed behind in Corinth, and I left Trophimus in Malta for he was sick.” (Source: Western Bukidnon Manobo Back Translation)
  • Kankanaey: “Erastus was left-behind in Corinto, and as for Trofimus, I left him in Miletus because he was sick.” (Source: Kankanaey Back Translation)
  • Tagbanwa: “Oh yes, as for Erasto, he stayed behind at Corinto. As for Trofimo, I left him at Melito because he was ill.” (Source: Tagbanwa Back Translation)
  • Tenango Otomi: “Concerning Erastus, he stayed in Corinth. And Trophimus I left in the city of Miletus because he was sick.” (Source: Tenango Otomi Back Translation)

Translation commentary on 2 Timothy 4:20

Erastus appears here and in two other places in the New Testament (Acts 19.22 and Rom 16.23, where he is identified as the city treasurer). It is possible that these verses are referring to the same person. In the Acts passage we are told that Paul sent Erastus and Timothy ahead to Macedonia, while he, Paul, stayed on in Asia for a while.

Corinth is a city in Greece. In 27 B.C. it became the capital of the province of Achaia (see the map, page 6|fig:Map_Paul-12.jpg). The book of Acts informs us that Paul founded the church there during his second missionary journey (see Acts 18.1-18).

Trophimus is perhaps the same Ephesian Christian mentioned twice in the book of Acts: as a companion of Paul (together with Timothy) on his journey to Jerusalem (Acts 20.4, 5), and as the cause of Paul’s problems with the mob in Jerusalem, who thought that Paul had brought a Gentile into the temple (Acts 21.29).

Miletus was an important port city in the Aegean Sea, south of Ephesus. It is mentioned twice in the book of Acts (20.15, 17). It was there where Paul met with the Ephesian church leaders for the last time.

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1995. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

Sung version of 2 Timothy 4

Living Water is produced for the Bible translation movement in association with Lutheran Bible Translators. Lyrics derived from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®).

For more information, see here .