Difference between revisions of "Demas"

<p> (&nbsp;Δημᾶς, perhaps a short form of Demetrius, as Silas was of Silvanus) </p> <p> [[Demas]] was a [[Christian]] believer who was with St. Paul during his imprisonment in Rome, and sends greetings to the Colossians (&nbsp;Colossians 4:14) and to Philemon (&nbsp;Philemon 1:24). Probably he was a Thessalonian, and in both the references he is mentioned in connexion with St. Luke, while in &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10 his conduct is contrasted with that of the beloved physician, In the last-named passage we are informed that Demas left the [[Apostle]] when he was awaiting his trial before Nero. The desertion seems to have been deeply resented by St. Paul, who describes his action as due to his ‘having loved this present world.’ Probably Demas realized that it was dangerous to be connected with one who was certain to be condemned by Nero, and he saved his life by returning to his home in Thessalonica. The phrase used, however, suggests that the prospect of worldly advantage was the motive which determined Demas. No doubt the busy commercial centre of [[Thessalonica]] offered many opportunities for success in business, and love of money may have been the besetting sin of this professing Christian. The name ‘Demetrius’ occurs twice in the list of politarchs of Thessalonica; and, while we cannot say with certainty that the Demas of &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10 is identical with either of these, the possibility is not excluded. In this case the prospect of civic honours may have been the reason which led him to abandon the hardships and dangers of the Apostle’s life and return to Thessalonica, where his family may have held positions of influence. Perhaps the bare mention of his name in &nbsp;Colossians 4:14 and the reference in &nbsp;Philippians 2:20-21 may indicate that the Apostle even at this early date suspected the genuineness of Demas, who was with him at the time of his writing to [[Philippi]] (cf. Ramsay, <i> St. Paul </i> , p. 358). We have no certain assurance that the apostasy of Demas was final, but the darker view of his character has usually been taken, as <i> e.g. </i> by Bunyan in <i> The Pilgrim’s [[Progress]] </i> . [[Epiphanius]] ( <i> Haer </i> . li. 6) classes him among the apostates from the faith. It is impossible to identify Demas with any [[Demetrius]] mentioned in the NT. </p> <p> Literature.-W. M. Ramsay, <i> St. Paul the [[Traveller]] and the [[Roman]] [[Citizen]] </i> 3, 1897. p. 358; J. B. Lightfoot, <i> Colossians and Philemon </i> 2, 1876, pp. 36, 242; articles in <i> Hasting's Dictionary of the [[Bible]] (5 vols) </i> &nbsp; , <i> Encyclopaedia Biblica </i> &nbsp; , and <i> Hastings’ Single-vol. Dictionary of the Bible </i> &nbsp; . </p> <p> W. F. Boyd. </p>

<p> &nbsp;De'mas. &nbsp;(governor of the people). Most probably, a contraction from &nbsp;Demetrius, or perhaps from Demarchus, a companion of St. Paul, &nbsp;Philemon 1:24; &nbsp;Colossians 4:14, during his first imprisonment at Rome. (A.D. 57). At a later period, &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10, we find him mentioned as having deserted the apostle through love of this present world, and having gone to Thessalonica. </p>

<p> &nbsp;Demas (&nbsp;dç'mas). Probably contracted from Demetrius. A companion of Paul during his first imprisonment at Rome. &nbsp;Colossians 4:14; Philem. 24. The mournful note is subsequently made that he had forsaken the apostle, "having loved this present world." &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10. Whether this meant actual apostasy we know not. </p>

<p> (&nbsp;Δημᾶς, probably a contraction from &nbsp;Δημήτριος, or perhaps from &nbsp;Δήμαρχος ), a companion of the apostle Paul (called by him his fellow- laborer, &nbsp;σύνεργος, in &nbsp;Philemon 1:24; see also &nbsp;Colossians 4:14) during his first imprisonment at Rome. B.C. 57. At a later period (&nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10), we find him mentioned as having deserted the apostle through love of this present world, and gone to Thessalonica. B.C. 64. This departure has been magnified by tradition into an apostasy from [[Christianity]] (so Epiphanius, Haeres. 51:6), which is by no means implied in the passage (Buddei Eccl. Apost. p. 311 sq.). </p>

<p> '''''dē´mas''''' (&nbsp; Δημᾶς , <i> '''''Dēmás''''' </i> , "popular"): According to &nbsp;Colossians 4:14; &nbsp;2 Timothy 4:10; &nbsp;Philippians 1:24 , one who was for a time a "fellow-worker" with Paul at Rome (Col, Philem), but at last, "having loved this present world," forsook the apostle and betook himself to Thessalonica (2 Tim). No other particulars are given concerning him. See [[Apostasy]]; [[Demetrius]] . </p>