Demas is mentioned in three of the canonical Pauline epistles :
- In Philemon he is mentioned as a "fellow worker". [Philemon 1:24]
- In Colossians he is mentioned along with Luke (the physician and writer of the Gospel of Luke and Acts). [Colossians 4:14]
- In Second Timothy, a letter traditionally ascribed to Paul, where it is mentioned that "...for Demas, because he loved this world, he has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica." ...
Where did Demas come from?
The Scriptures do not explicitly state where Demas was from. Some have inferred from the desertion passage that his departure to Thessalonica implies that he was returning to his hometown. If that is the case, he was originally from Thessalonica.
What does Paul not say about Demas?
Paul does not tell us what aspect of the present world system Demas loved. He does not say if it is fame, fortune, or the gratification of the flesh. I believe the reason that the Apostle Paul does not tell us any details as to what Demas did “loving this present world” was two-fold.
Why was Demas a visiting missionary?
Apparently Demas was a visiting missionary to the Lycus Valley at one time because they knew him, thus his greetings to them. He was not a local brother like Epaphras (4:12). As for the timing of his visit to the Lycus Valley, the Scriptures are silent. His Forsaking of Paul.
Why did Demas go to Thessalonica?
He said: “A copyist in a manuscript preserved in the Medici Library in Florence adds in the margin the information that Demas became a priest of a pagan temple at Thessalonica. On what authority he says this we do not know” (1966: 100). If this footnote is true, the allurement that Demas fell for was the pride of life.
Was Demas a true believer?
One noted preacher suggests that Demas “may not have been a true believer at all” (MacAuthur 1995:206). A word of caution is in order at this point. Demas was a fellow laborer with Paul and at a point in time, he forsook Paul. We have no Scriptural record of what happened to Demas after he got to Thessalonica. Perhaps he abandoned his love for this present world and started to love the appearing of Christ and began to set his affection on things above.
Who said they will be denied the privilege of reigning with Christ for 1,000 years?
Earlier in Paul’s epistle to Timothy he says of those believers who deny the Lord, that they will be denied the privilege of reigning with Christ for 1,000 years (II Tim. 2:11-13, for a full discussion of this passage, see McCoy 1988). Demas was with Paul when he wrote the epistle to the church at Colossae (Col. 4:14).
Who was Paul comparing to Demas?
Paul contrasts his, and others, who love the appearing of the Lord Jesus and will eventually receive the crown of righteousness, with Demas who was living for this present world and not looking for the appearing of the Lord Jesus.
Who is Demas in the Bible?
Bible Dictionaries - Easton's Bible Dictionary - Demas. a companion and fellow-labourer of Paul during his first imprisonment at Rome ( Philemon 1:24 ; Colossians 4:14 ). It appears, however, that the love of the world afterwards mastered him, and he deserted the apostle ( 2 Timothy 4:10 ). published by Thomas Nelson, 1897.
What does Demas mean in the Bible?
Bible Dictionaries - Smith's Bible Dictionary - Demas. Demas [N] [E] [H] ( governor of the people ), most probably a contraction from Demetrius or perhaps from Demarchus, a companion of St. Paul, ( Philemon 1:24 ; Colossians 4:14 ) during his first imprisonment at Rome. (A.D. 57.)
Who is Demas in the Bible?
Demas. Demas or Demos was a man mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible, and appears to have been involved for a time in his ministry. Demas is mentioned in three of the canonical Pauline epistles : In Philemon he is mentioned as a "fellow worker". [Philemon 1:24]
Who is Demas in Pilgrim's Progress?
In The Pilgrim's Progress, John Bunyan writes of Demas, a deceiver, who beckons to pilgrims at the Hill Lucre, urging them to join in the supposed silver mining being carried out there. Interestingly, Demas is described in Pilgrim's Progress as a fellow pilgrim, just like Paul describes Demas as a "fellow worker.".
What is the role of Demas in Jane Eyre?
In Jane Eyre, St. John notes that Jane is free of the vice of Demas when trying to convince her to join him as a missionary in India.
What is the last word in Demas?
We don’t know the last word on Demas. I hope that he repented in the end. But because of Mark, we know that failure doesn’t have to be the last word for us.
What does Mark give us in the book of Mark?
Mark, on the other hand, gives us hope. He had a weak start. He didn’t appear to have the right stuff. He disappointed his leaders and friends by leaving them to bear the heat of battle while he went home.
What does Paul say in the letter to Timothy?
But just a few sentences later in this letter to Timothy, Paul says something very hope-giving: “Get Mark and bring him with you , for he is very useful to me for ministry” ( 2 Timothy 4:11 ).
Did Paul know what he was talking about?
Paul knew what he was talking about. He watched co-laborers fall. But let us also remember that God is in the business of forgiving sins, reconciling stumbling sinners to himself, and restoring them to useful service. Paul knew this too.
Did Demas end well?
But he doesn’t appear to end well. Having once fought alongside of Paul in kingdom battles, he seems to have sided with the enemy.
What is the subject of the study of Demas?
The subject of this study is Demas, who is mentioned in Colossians 4:14 . Here was a man who lived and worked with the apostle Paul but who afterwards, like John Mark, ...
Why do some who turn back like Demas do so?
Look up 1 John 2:19, which suggests that some who turn back like Demas do so because they have never been truly born again ; they have only professed to be Christians (2 Timothy 3:5); they have never possessed Christ (John 1:12; Galatians 2:20). What about doing a little of 2 Corinthians 13:5?
When those who have at one time loved the Lord begin to “cool off” in their love and zeal,?
When those who have at one time loved the Lord begin to “cool off” in their love and zeal, it is usually detected by their less frequent attendance at the services of their church – look up Hebrews 10:24-25. How many folk used to go to church, be at the prayer meeting, attend the Bible study, or used to be a keen worker for the Lord! Their spiritual experience is now all in the past tense; like Demas, they have gone back - look up Acts 2:42, and compare Colossians 1:9-11.
Who wrote the Colossian letter to Timothy?
Here was a man who lived and worked with the apostle Paul but who afterwards, like John Mark, deserted him (Luke 9:62). When Paul wrote this Colossian letter all was well (Colossians 4:14), but things had tragically changed when, some four years later, he wrote to Timothy - see 2 Timothy 4:10. Demas had been a man of great privilege.
Did Demas adopt the world's standards?
Demas probably began to adopt the world’s standards; possibly he began to view missionary endeavour from the world’s standpoint and found himself asking, “Is it worth it?”, and consequently he lost the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). It is sad when the world’s icy grip begins to affect a Christian.
Where did Dismas and Gestas come from?
The names Dismas and Gestas are first found in the apocryphal writing entitled “The Gospel of Nicodemus” that historians typically agree was written in the 4th century.
What is the name of the saint who taunted Jesus?
Finally, it should be mentioned that Dismas (sometimes spelled Dysmas) was the name associated with the good thief who asked Jesus to remember him in paradise ( Luke 23:43 ), while Gestas was the one who taunted Jesus along with the crowd. In the Roman Catholic tradition, Dismas was canonized as a saint whose feast is celebrated March 25.
What are the names of the two thieves who were crucified on the cross?
Dismas and Gestas are the names sometimes mentioned as the two thieves crucified on crosses to the right and left of Jesus. In the New Testament accounts of the crucifixion, two men are mentioned, yet their names are never given. The names Dismas and Gestas do not come from the New Testament, but are taken from a pseudepigraphal book not included in the New Testament canon. As a result, whether Dismas and Gestas were the true names of the two men crucified at the time of Jesus is unknown.
