For some time now I have been meeting weekly with a few guys to study through 1 & 2 Timothy. Just this week, we came to the final chapter of what many consider to be Paul’s final letter, 2 Timothy. In these final words, Paul distinguishes by name some people for Timothy to seek help from and to watch out for. One very interesting name appears in verse 10 of chapter 4:
For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. – 2 Timothy 4:10
Demas In The Bible
Who was Demas?
Demas is a figure mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible. He is referred to by the Apostle Paul in his letters to various churches.
Demas’ role in the Bible
Demas is first mentioned in the book of Philemon, where he is described as a fellow worker with Paul and Timothy. He is also mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Colossians, where he sends greetings as a beloved co-worker. However, it is in Paul’s second letter to Timothy where the story of Demas takes a more somber turn.
Demas’ Departure
In 2 Timothy 4:10, Paul writes, “For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” This verse indicates that Demas has abandoned his work with Paul and chosen to pursue worldly desires instead.
The Temptation of Worldly Pleasures
This departure of Demas serves as a cautionary tale for Christians about the temptations of the world and the importance of staying faithful to one’s calling. It shows how easily one can be swayed by the allure of worldly pleasures and forsake their spiritual obligations.
Lessons from Demas
Demas’ story reminds us of the need to stay steadfast in our faith and to resist the temptations of this world. We must prioritize our spiritual well-being over earthly desires and remain loyal to the teachings of God.
Who Was Demas and Where Do We See Him in Scripture?
We know Paul at one time trusted Demas. Paul included his name among such respected Christ-followers as Luke. “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (Col. 4:14). But after serving with Paul and other great people of faith, Demas later forsook them.
The Bible mentions Demas in three places. Two times Paul includes him in a place of honor as a fellow worker spreading the Gospel.
“Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (Col. 4:14).
“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers” (Philemon 23-34).
However, while Paul awaited execution, his reference to Demas reveals a sad turn. “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). Chronologically, that is the last biblical mention of Demas.
Why Did Demas Turn Away from Paul and the Ministry?
Paul said Demas deserted him because he loved this present world. He left Paul and headed to Thessalonica, a large, wealthy, cosmopolitan city. James warned that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God” (James 4:4). The desire to enjoy the pleasures of this world caused him to turn his back on his friend and mentor, and on the Lord.
Perhaps the sacrifice of serving alongside Paul began to wear on him. He saw other men his age settling down and enjoying the pleasures of this life. Would it be so wrong to sample the good life?
Then Demas looked at Paul, who had suffered so much for Christ. And what was his reward? Pending execution. Was that how God took care of His servants?
We don’t know the turmoil inside of Demas or how long he wrestled with his doubleminded loyalty before he caved into following the lure of this world. Neither do we know if he ever tired of the world and returned to serve Jesus. What we do know, is that Demas abandoned Paul while he was in prison awaiting execution.
The biblical record shows Demas wasn’t the first fellow missionary to desert Paul. On an earlier missionary journey with Barnabas, John, called Mark, broke trust with Paul when he left their mission team to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Later Mark experienced a change of heart. But Paul no longer trusted him. When Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance and include him in a later mission trip, Paul flatly refused. So, Paul and Barnabas separated. Barnabas set off with Mark, and Paul left with Silas (Acts 15:37-40).
Years later, however, Paul had to acknowledge that Mark had proved trustworthy. In his letter to Timothy reporting Demas’s sad choice, Paul added, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). I wonder if writing about Demas had reminded him of his disappointment with Mark so many years ago.
What Can We Learn from This?
A man in ministry once asked me if I ever tired of listening to sermons. His question startled me. Editing recorded sermons was part of his job. I got the idea he’d confused listening to what other people received from their Bible and walk with God with nurturing his own relationship with God. I thought of that years later when I learned he and his wife had divorced and married friends.
Did Demas substitute listening to Paul with following the Lord? Demas warns of the danger of substituting a relationship with strong believers for a growing relationship with Christ. Listening to Paul preach was wonderful. But Demas also needed to listen to Jesus and personally follow Him.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).
Ministry activity can’t replace loving the Lord. Hanging out with the spiritually committed is wise. But it’s no substitute for practicing the presence of Jesus ourselves. We need to individually protect and nurture our love relationship with the Lord. We must establish and protect such spiritual disciplines as reading and meditating on the Bible, prayer, practicing God’s presence, and fellowshipping with fellow believers.
We need an eternal perspective. The pull of the world is very real. Spiritual warfare is also real. No one is immune to the schemes of the devil.
“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).
An eternal perspective helped Moses walk away from a palace and safety to follow the Lord.
“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).
Yes, many of God’s saints like Paul suffer in this life for following the Lord. But as Paul, who was granted a vision of heaven, wrote, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).
Paul also wrote, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18).
Persevere to the End
We are living in a world that has become increasingly hostile toward Christians and biblical values. Jesus said that in the world we’d experience trouble. Expect it and hang in there. He offers peace now and a crown later for those who persevere to the end.
“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).
I hope Demas returned to the Lord as Mark did. But whether he did or not, may we learn from his weakness and strengthen ourselves in the Lord every day. Let’s follow the path of Jesus, Paul, and James—not Demas.
Here, Paul makes a very powerful statement about this man named Demas. As it is with many of the names Paul includes in his letters, not much is known about Demas, but this is not the only place that Demas is mentioned in the New Testament. Earlier in the chronology of Paul’s letters, Demas is mentioned twice:
Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. – Colossians 4:14
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. – Philemon 1:23-24
Demas was a missionary companion and fellow worker of Paul in spreading the Gospel. He was considered a leader in the eyes of the Colossians, so much so that Paul used his name – a name those in the Colossian churches would recognize. But by the time Paul was imprisoned, Demas had left Paul to live his own life and do he wanted to do.
In fact, Demas did more than leave Paul, he “deserted” him. This word deserted falls short of the full meaning, which can be translated “left in the lurch.” Today we might use the phrase, “left me in a ditch to die.”
What was the motivation for Demas’ departure? Paul describes it as “being in love with this present world.” The present world, to Paul, was everything outside of the Kingdom of God. Being in love with the present world meant not being in love with Jesus, the One who had given His life to save us. Being in love with the world is really about following oneself and not Christ. Paul writes in Colossians 3:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. – Colossians 3:1-4
If we think of Demas in the context of today, he would be a respected deacon or elder in a church, maybe even a church staff member – someone who has served the church and the Lord. However, the story of Demas is all about one who serves the Lord for a time, but then decides to shift his priorities. We might even think of it as a sort of retirement from serving the Lord. “I’ve done my time. It’s time for someone else to do the work.”
The Holy Spirit worked through Paul to show us in the three short verses that this is not at all what the Lord desires for our life. There is no retiring from following Christ or serving the Lord and His church! All of Scripture teaches us that the world and its selfish desires leave us empty, but serving the Lord fills us and leaves an eternal legacy.
May our love be for the Lord and His Kingdom, not for this present world. May we set our minds on things above – on Christ – the One who gave His life so that we could live.
Lessons from Demas in the Bible
Demas. His name is on a list of names posted on the pages of the New Testament as one of the most notorious of Christian apostates. There are only three references to his name and his contribution to Paul’s ministry (Col 4:14, Philm 24) and his later detraction from it (2 Tim 4:9–10).
From these limited Scriptural references what can be possibly learned from this Christian man? Apparently much. This is the goal of this particular piece, to consider the lesson of Demas who at some point was counted among Paul’s “fellow workers” but then deserted Paul at a most crucial point in his ministry.
The Man in Question
In all fairness, there is next to nothing explicitly known about Demas, so we are forced in many ways to stretch out as much as possible (within fair limits) from what we do know about him.
Demas was a common enough name to be found in documents found among the ancient papyri of the New Testament era and beyond. The name is found in the company of several Jewish names. His name is a shortened form either Demetrius (cf. Acts 19:24, 3 John 12), Demarchus, or Demaratos.[1]
He could either be a Greek convert or a convert from among the Greek speaking Jews like Timothy (Acts 16:1). The last time we read of him he is journey bound to Thessalonica (2 Tim 4:10), which could point to his origins. Paul and Silas established a congregation in that city made up Jews and Greeks (cf. Acts 17:1–9).
Ultimately, we are left with reasonable speculation as to his origins. At some point, Demas comes in contact with the Gospel and with Paul. His reputation for service is of such caliber that he joins Paul’s mission to the Gentiles (2 Tim 4:17, Acts 9:15–16, Gal 2:6–10).
All this being said, we must ask a puzzling question, “What went wrong?” Here is a gentleman that labored alongside the Apostle Paul during some of the most epic moments of his ministry only to defect at the last. It’s baffling, if not disconcerting.
Background
Perhaps a little background is in order. The New Testament reflects that Paul experienced two significant imprisonments in Rome. The first imprisonment lasted two years and dates roughly to about A.D. 61–62, the second traditionally dates around A.D. 64.
The letters of Philippians, Ephesians and Colossians, and Philemon were dispatched during the first imprisonment as he waited for his hearing before Caesar (cf. Acts 28), from which he was subsequently released (Phil 1:25–26, Rom 15:24).
Demas was there with Paul when the Apostle was awaiting trial. He stands alongside noteworthy men such as Tychicus, Onesimus, Mark, Jesus (Justus), Epaphras, and Luke (Col 4:10–17, Philm 23–44). Those arduous years in Rome were filled with much turmoil as well as victories.
No wonder he was labeled as a “fellow worker” (Philm 24). This word reflects the fact that Demas was no slouch. He was every bit as critical as those listed above. He helped in doing his part in the division of labor. Such is the meaning of the phrase “fellow worker” (Grk. synergos).[2] But just a few years later, his heart desired no part of this work.
Upon release, Paul was ready to set in motion the things necessary to go West in Spain as he wrote to Christians in Rome (Rom 15:24). Also, Paul addresses some matters with Timothy in Ephesus (1 Timothy), and Titus in Crete (Titus).
All things seem to be progressing. At some point, however, Paul is arrested again. This time it is for keeps. The city of Rome suffered a week long fire that catastrophically destroyed the center of the empire in A.D. 64. The Great Fire of Rome is said to have “deprived numerous families of their homes and caused widespread discontent.”[3]
It is widely accepted that the fire was created by Caesar Nero (A.D. 54–68), and that he blamed the Christians for this crime (Tacitus [ca. 60-120], Annals 15.44).[4] According to tradition, Paul and Peter were both caught up in the persecution which followed; both were arrested and executed under Nero.[5] In fact, early tradition says their executions happened around the same time, the fourteenth year of Nero (A.D. 67–68).[6]
Paul has the trial of his life before him and he needs “the books and the parchments” (4:13). He also needed heaven bound Christians; yet, Paul was aware that this time his outcome did not look good (4:6). Yet, he trusted in the Lord.
“Demas… has Deserted Me”
This brings us to 2 Timothy 4:10. In Paul’s final letter he laments Demas as an unfortunate casualty: “Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.” (4:10 ESV)
It is quite possible that the fierceness of the persecution and atmosphere in Rome played a factor in Demas’s desert towards Thessalonica. For this reason, he asks Timothy to leave Ephesus and come to Rome in a hurry (4:9). Ironically, Timothy would sail out of the Aegean Sea, waters shared with Thessalonica.
Paul is quite clear that Demas is a “deserter.”[7] That the desertion had already happened by the time the letter is obvious. Paul felt the sting of being left behind in his bonds by one who had been so trusted an ally in Christ. Demas forsook, abandoned, and deserted Paul while he was in a dire situation. This requires little exposition, Demas left Paul abandoned in his bonds and set his course to Thessalonica.
The real curious aspect of this text is the phrase, “in love with this present world” (or “having loved the present age”). The usual word translated “world” (kosmos) which suggests the material world and universe is not used here by the Apostle; instead, Paul employs a term which means “a very long time,” like the term “eternity” (Jude 25, John 6:51, 58). It may also mean the created world (Heb 1:2; 11:3), but this use is very limited; or, as is the case here, “a segment of time” as in an “age, an epoch.”[8]
There is a moral quality to this phrase. In 1 Corinthians 3:18b, Paul writes, “If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age.” There is a way one is wise in the things “which people in this world think” or “think are right.”[9] Again, in Mark 4.19 we read, “the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” It is not that much different, then, to have a “high esteem” for the present world/age with all its “cares” and “wisdom.”[10]
Demas’s interest and concern (“being in love” or “having loved”) with this present age was materialized, then, in his desertion of Paul. In fact, it would be reasonable to understand “being in love with this world/age” as defining the nature of the desertion. Demas forsook Paul “in that he held a high appraisal of this present world” over the faithfulness of God and the promises of the Gospel. It is quite clear that the vigor of faith that he had early on was now replaced by a desire to be satisfied by what the world offers. So, he departed from Paul.
What Can We Learn?
There are some painful lessons to observe from Demas. But they call upon us to be vigilant of our motives for being followers of Christ. Briefly, here are some lessons:
- Difficult times reveal the quality of one’s conversion. Moments don’t define the quality of our conversion, they reveal it.
- Great Christians can fall. Demas was a guy that no one perhaps would have suspected to abandon his brethren in hard times.
- What we care about can be dangerous. Demas had become so concerned with what the world valued that it became more alluring than his witness to the world with the Gospel.
- What matters most to you will always be revealed. Demas was unable to stay focused on the temporary nature of this life; his love of this world outweighed his love for the next life.
Demas reminds us of how fragile faith can be. More specifically, Demas gives us a spiritual “wake up” call. It is time to pick up!