Demetrius

A Dictionary of Early Christian Biography

Demetrius (2) succeeded Julianus A.D. 189, as 11th bp. of Alexandria (Eus. H. E. v. 22). He presided over the see for 43 years, and died a.d. 231-232 ( ib. vi. 26). He appears to have been of an energetic and imperious nature. He took an active interest in the Catechetical School, and is said to have sent one of its early chiefs, Pantaenus, on a [second?] mission "to the Indians" on their own request (Hieron. de Vir. Ill. 36). After Clement had left Alexandria, he placed Origen at its head, c. 203 (Eus. H. E. vi. 5), and strenuously encouraged him to continue his work, when his indiscreet zeal had exposed him to misrepresentation ( ib. vi. 8). Later (a.d. 217), he sent Origen to the Roman governor of Arabia, at the governor's earnest invitation ( ib. vi. 19). Origen fulfilled his mission satisfactorily, but not long afterwards Demetrius's friendship for him was interrupted. [See Origen.] According to a late, and not very trustworthy, authority, Demetrius is reported to have written letters on the keeping of Easter, maintaining the view adopted at Nicaea (Eutychius, Ann. pp. 363 ff.; Migne, Patrol. vol. cxi.). Other legendary stories of his life are given in the Chronicon Orientale (pp. 72 f. ed 1685), and more briefly by Tillemont ( Mémoires , Origène, art. vii. tom. iii. p. 225, ed. Bruxelles).

The statement that Demetrius first changed the singular ecclesiastical arrangement of Egypt, by appointing three bishops in addition to the bp. of Alexandria, who had formerly governed the whole province, is probably correct, though the only direct authority for it is that of Eutychius, patriarch of Alexandria, in the 10th cent. (cf. Lightfoot, Philippians , p. 230). Possibly this change was due to special views on church government, which may have influenced Demetrius in his harsh judgment on the ordination of Origen beyond the limits of his jurisdiction.

[B.F.W.]

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. A goldsmith of Ephesus, who made models of the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, which he sold to foreigners, Acts 19:24-4 . Observing the progress of the gospel, not in Ephesus only, but in the regions around, he assembled his fellow-craftsmen, and represented that, by this new doctrine, not only their trade would suffer, but the worship of the great Diana of Ephesus was in danger of being entirely forsaken. This produced an uproar and riot in the city, which the town clerk with difficulty appeased by firmness and persuasion.

2. A disciple, and probably a minister, of high repute, 3 John 1:12 . He may have been formerly the silversmith of Ephesus; but this can be neither proved nor disproved.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A Christian who is spoken of as having "a good report of all men, and of the truth itself" (3 John 1:12 ).

Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Demetrius'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/d/demetrius.html. 1897.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

1. A maker of silver portable models of the great temple and statue of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus (Acts 19:24). They were kept as amulets against danger. Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, in fear for their gains, raised a tumult against Paul as saying "they be no gods which are made with hands." Like many men he made regard for religion his plea, while really having an eye to self; "not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." A religious party cry is sure to rouse many who care little at heart about piety. It shows how soon Christianity, notwithstanding its seeming weakness, was felt as a mighty power threatening pagandom with all its then greatness.

2. A Christian "having good report of all men, and of the truth itself," and of John (3 John 1:12). The gospel standard of truth witnessed his conformity to it in love and good works; a transparently real Christian.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Acts 19:24-413 John 1:12

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

DEMETRIUS . 1. Soter , the son of Seleucus Philopator . In his boyhood he was sent (b.c. 175) to Rome as a hostage, but made his escape after the death of his uncie, Antiochus Epiphanes. Landing at Tripolis, he was joined by large bodies of the people, and even by the bodyguard of his cousin, Antiochus Eupator. Eupator was soon defeated and put to death, and in b.c. 162, Demetrius was proclaimed king ( 1Ma 7:1-4 , 2Ma 14:1-2; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XII. x. 1). After seven years, Alexander Balas (wh. see) was set up as a claimant to the crown of Syria (b.c. 153); and he and Demetrius competed for the support of Jonathan ( 1Ma 10:1-21; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. ii. 1 3). Balas prevailed in spite of the attempts of his rival to outbid him ( 1Ma 10:25-45 ). In b.c. 150 a decisive engagement took place, in which Demetrius was defeated and slain ( 1Ma 10:48-50; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. ii. 4).

2. Nikator , sent by his father, D. Soter , for safety to Chidus after the success of Balas seemed probable. After several years of exile he landed (b.c. 147) with an army of Cretan mercenaries on the Cilician coast, and finally inflicted a fatal defeat upon Balas (b.c. 145) on the banks of the Œnoparas, from which event Demetrius derived his surname ( 1Ma 11:14-19; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. iv. 8). He bought off the opposition of Jonathan by the addition of three Samaritan provinces to Judæa, and the exemption from tribute of the country thus enlarged ( 1Ma 11:20-37; Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. iv. 9). After varying fortunes in the war with Tryphon (wh. see), Demetrius invaded the dominions of the king of Parthia, by whom, in b.c. 138, he was taken prisoner ( 1Ma 14:1-3 ). Upon regaining his liberty at the end of ten years, he undertook a war against Ptolemy Physkon of Egypt. Having been defeated by Zabinas at Damascus, he fled to Ptolemais, and thence to Tyre, where in b.c. 125 he was murdered (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. ix. 3), possibly at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra (App. Syr . 68; Liv. Epit . lx.).

3. Eukairos , grandson of D. Nikator . On the death of his father he established himself in Cœle-Syria, with Damascus as his capital (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. xiii. 4). When civil war broke out between Alexander Jannæus and his Pharisee subjects, the latter invited the assistance of Demetrius (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. xiii. 5, BJ I. iv. 4), who defeated Jannæus in a pitched battle near Shecbem (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. xiv. 1, BJ I. iv. 5). After a chequered career, Demetrius fell into the hands of the Parthians, by whom he was detained in captivity until his death (Jos. [Note: Josephus.] Ant . XIII. xiv. 3).

4, 5. Two persons of the name are mentioned in NT the ringleader in the riot at Ephesus ( Acts 19:24 ), and a disciple commended by St. John ( 3 John 1:12 ). Probably the same name occurs in a contracted form as Demas .

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

There are two, if not three, persons of this name mentioned in the NT-a fact which is not surprising, considering how very common the name was in the Greek world.

1. Demetrius, the silversmith of Ephesus (Acts 19). A business man, profoundly interested in the success of his business, Demetrius was a manufacturer of various objects in silver, of which the most profitable were small silver models of the shrine of the Ephesian goddess Artemis (see Diana). These models were purchased by the rich, dedicated to the goddess, and hung up within her temple. The preaching of St. Paul was so powerful that devotion to the goddess became less prevalent, the demand for such offerings was reduced, and Demetrius felt his livelihood in danger. He called a meeting of the gild of his handicraft to decide on a means for coping with the new situation. The meeting ended in a public disturbance. Nothing is known of the later life of Demetrius.

2. Demetrius, an important member of the church referred to in the Second and Third Epistles of St. John. It is impossible to identify the church with certainty, but there can be little doubt that it was in the province of Asia. The presbyter-overseer of the church is absent, and in his absence Gaius and Demetrius act in the truest interest of the members. Demetrius’ good conduct (3 John 1:12) is attested by all.

3. The full name of Demas (Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:10, Philemon 1:24) may very well have been Demetrius (possibly Demodorus, Demodotus); see Demas.

Literature.-See W. M. Ramsay’s lifelike picture of the scene at Ephesus in his St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen , London, 1895, p. 277ff. The best list of pet-names is found in A. N. Jannaris, An Historical Greek Grammar , do. 1897, § 287.

A. Souter.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Silversmith of Ephesus, who made silver shrines of the temple. Fearing that the preaching of Paul against idolatry would lessen the gains of himself and others, he raised an uproar. Acts 19:24,38 .

2. A convert who was borne witness to by all, and by the truth itself. 3 John 12 .

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Demetrius (de-mç'tri-ŭs), belonging to Demeter or Geres. 1. A maker of silver shrines—models of the great temple—of Diana or Artemis at Ephesus. Acts 19:24. 2. A Christian mentioned with' commendation by John. 3 John 1:12.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Deme'trius. (belonging to Ceres).

1. A maker of silver shrines of Artemis at Ephesus. Acts 19:24. (About A.D. 52). These were small models of the great temple of the Ephesian Artemis, with her statue, which it was customary to carry on journeys, and place on houses as charms.

2. A disciple, 3 John 1:12, mentioned with commendation, (about A.D. 90). Possibly the first Demetrius, 1, converted; but this is very doubtful.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Deme´trius, a man's name, denoting a votary of Ceres, and very common among the Greeks. The persons of this name mentioned in the history of the Maccabees, and in the New Testament, are—

Demetrius Soter, 1

Deme´trius Soter, king of Syria. He was son of Seleucus IV, surnamed Philopator; but, being an hostage at Rome at the time of his father's death, his uncle, the notorious Antiochus Epiphanes, assumed the crown of Syria, and retained it eleven years. After him it was held two years by his son Antiochus Eupator, who was put to death in B.C. 162 by Demetrius, who then arrived in Syria and secured the royal heritage from which he had so long been excluded. He reigned twelve years, B.C. 102-150. The points in which his history connects him with the Jews are alone of interest in this work, and these points belong to the history of the Maccabees [see article MACCABEES]. To his time belong the latter end of the government of Judas in Israel and the beginning of that of Jonathan. He acted oppressively and unjustly towards them; but, when a rival arose in the person of Alexander Balas, he bade so high for the support of Jonathan as to create a doubt of his sincerity; for which cause, as well as from resentment at the injuries he had inflicted on them, the Jews espoused the cause of Balas, to whose success they in no slight degree contributed [ALEXANDER BALAS, 2].

Demetrius Nicator, 2

Demetrius Nicator, or Nicanor, son of the preceding, but who was excluded from the throne till B.C. 146, by the success of Alexander Balas, and then recovered it chiefly by the assistance of his father-in-law Ptolemy Philometor. He at first treated the Jews well, but eventually gave them so much cause for dissatisfaction that they readily espoused the cause of Antiochus Theos, son of Alexander Balas. Demetrius underwent many vicissitudes, and passed several years (B.C. 141-135) in captivity among the Parthians, from which he eventually returned and recovered his throne, which he continued to occupy till B.C. 126, when he was defeated in battle by the pretender Alexander Zebina, and afterwards slain at Tyre, whither he had fled [MACCABEES].

Demetrius, 3

Demetrius, a silversmith at Ephesus, who, being alarmed at the progress of the Gospel under the preaching of Paul, assembled his fellow-craftsmen, and excited a tumult by haranguing them on the danger that threatened the worship of the great goddess Diana, and consequently their own craft as silversmiths. Their employment was to make 'silver shrines for Diana' and it is now generally agreed that these 'shrines' were silver models of the temple, or of its adytum or chapel, in which perhaps a little image of the goddess was placed. These, it seems, were purchased by foreigners, who either could not perform their devotions at the temple itself, or who, after having done so, carried them away as memorials or for purposes of worship. The continual resort of foreigners to Ephesus from all parts, on account of the singular veneration in which the image of the goddess was held, must have rendered this manufacture very profitable, and sufficiently explains the anxiety of Demetrius and his fellow-craftsmen.

Demetrius, 4

Demetrius, a Christian, mentioned with commendation in . From the connection of St. John with Ephesus at the time the Epistle was written, some have supposed that this Demetrius is the same as the preceding, and that he had been converted to Christianity. But this is a mere conjecture, rendered the more uncertain by the commonness of the name.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Copyright StatementThese files are public domain.

Bibliography InformationMcClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Demetrius'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/d/demetrius.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

The name of two kings of Macedonia who ruled over the country, the first from 290 to 289 B.C., and the second from 240 to 229 B.C.