“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (2Tim 4:10).
“No mas!”
It was the long awaited rematch between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. Duran was the tough-as-nails welterweight champ with the infamous hands of stone. But that night in the Superdome, Sugar Ray took control of the fight and began to taunt Duran.
Then something happened that nobody saw coming. With just seconds to go in the eighth round, the champ turned his back on Leonard and waved his boxing glove at the referee. “No mas!” That’s Spanish for “no more.” Instead of punching back, Duran punked out.
When Your Buddy Bails
So what in the Wide World of Sports does a boxer bailing in a bout have to do with an apostle in prison? According to Paul, one of his closest friends threw in the towel in the final rounds.
“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (v10). Paul doesn’t go into specifics but his buddy has bailed. He’s been ditched by Demas.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock
This is probably a good time to zoom out to see the context of what’s going here. It’s sometime around 66-67 AD. The place is Rome’s Mamertine Prison, Caesar’s SuperMax. The Apostle Paul is writing what will be the last letter of his life. He’s behind bars on Death Row (2Tim 1:6, 12, 1; 2:9; 4:6-7).
With his final hours ticking down like the clock on “24,” Paul fires off a frantic note to Timothy, his spiritual son and “my beloved child” (2Tim 1:2). He writes with a pair of purposes. First, he’s officially making the handoff of ministry to the young preacher (2Tim 2:1-4:4). Second, he begs his protege for one last visit (2Tim 4:9; 21).
Which brings us to Demas’ desertion. There’s a pretty good chance that Paul needs Tim because someone who’s name starts with “D” and ends with “emas” dropped out. Or as as they say in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” he’s done “r-u-n-n-o-f-t!”
Who Is Demas?
Just who is this guy and why did he abandon the apostle in his darkest hour? Looking back on his other mentions in the New Testament, Demas seems to be exactly the kind of guy who would stick by your side when the chips are down.
Just five years ago during a previous time in the big house, he was right there with Paul. In a letter to Colossian believers from prison, the apostle wants them to know, “Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas” (Col 4:14). During the same incarceration, he tells his friend Philemon that Ephaphras “sends his greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers” (Phm 23-24).
This Present World
So what changed? Why has one of the most dedicated members of Paul’s posse flown the coop? Why did Demas say “no mas”? (Okay, it probably wasn’t in Spanish but Greek.)
While the apostle doesn’t get into specifics of Demas going AWOL, he does say that he’s “in love with this present world” (v10). Paul’s buddy had a choice to make. Stay with Paul or hit the road. And it becomes crystal clear that whatever he means by the phrase “this present world,” it did not involve hanging out in a Roman dungeon.
In the prequel to this letter, Paul uses this very same phrase when writing to Timothy about the top one percent. “As for the rich in this present world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1Tim 6:17, emphasis added).
Chasing Fads
The ESV translates the Greek word αιων/aion as “world.” Just to be clear, Paul’s NOT talking about planet. This term describes an era, age or a specific time period. It can also mean the system of practices and standards associated with secular society apart from the requirements of God.
That being the case, you can literally translate that Demas “has loved the age that now is” (v10). The Message nails it by saying Paul’s partner is off “chasing fads” (v10 The Message). Instead of standing by the apostle’s side, he’s decided to chase what’s trendy, hip, and hot.
No, I’m not saying Demas dumped Paul to play Pokemon Go while putting his hair in a First Century man-bun. He simply got distracted by the current stuff of life. The right now in Demas’ life totally overwhelmed the eternal.
Hmm, sound familiar? Plenty of folks think the Bible is a dusty, old collection of well-intended but horribly outdated fairy tales. Church might have been good for Memaw back in the day, but I need something more chic. Gimme something current. Gimme something hip. Gimme something hot.
The Urgent Versus the Important
Don’t pull a Demas and mistake what’s urgent for what’s important. The Gospel allows us to look at life through the wide angle lens of eternity. We see what has enduring value. Just a hint, that value isn’t found binging the latest hot show on Netflix.
If you’re scoring at home, we’re talking about relationships. A relationship with God. Relationships with people. Those are SO important that Jesus said they are the secret sauce of obedience to the entire entire Old Testament (Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31). So, yeah, loving others is kind of a big deal. Like a big, hairy eternal deal.
Let’s put all our cards on the table. You and I are whole lot more like Demas than we are Paul. We’re probably the folks Jesus was talking about when He compared spreading the Gospel in various soil conditions. “The cares of the world (Gr. αιων/aion) and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” and the Good News never thrives (Mk 4:19).
IN the World or OF the World?
So how do we live in “this present age” (v10) and not give in to it? How do we live IN the world and not be OF the world? Paul knew believers in Rome would face these very same challenges as we do. “Do not be conformed to this world (Gr. αιων/aion), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
In other words, don’t let the culture shape you from the outside. Let God’s Word shape you from the inside. The only real hope of not falling for the latest fads is allowing the Lord give you a brand new mind. A mind just like His that thinks like He thinks. Or as Paul tells the folks in Corinth, “We have the mind of Christ” (1Cor 2:16).
Left in the Lurch
How deep was Demas’ fascination with “this present age” (v10). Well, the apostle says he “has deserted me” (v10). Paul uses a Greek verb (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) which paints a picture of abandoning someone in a desperate situation or leaving them in the lurch. It’s from a root word which means to leave destitute or distraught.
It should come as no shock that this is EXACTLY the same word used to translate Jesus’ heartbreaking cry from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) Me” (Mt 27:46). Our Savior experienced the ultimate abandonment so that we never have to. You can bet the apostle counts on that as he writes Tim.
On the Road to Thessalonica
The apostle does tell us that Demas has hit the road “and gone to Thessalonica” (v10). In the First Century, it was the capital of Macedonia. Thessalonica was a commercial hub sitting smack dab along a major Roman highway with direct access to shipping on the Aegean Sea. If this wasn’t Demas’ hometown, it certainly was a happening town.
If the name of the place rings a bell, it should. Luke records that Paul had a rather short but eventful stay in Thessalonica. Planted a church there (Acts 17:1-4). Stirred up a real hornets nest there (Acts 17:5-9). Got chased out of there (Acts 17:10). And later, wrote a couple of letters to believers there.
Crescens to Galatia
Paul tells Timothy how of a couple of other members of his team that have moved on. “Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (v10). Sure seems like the apostle sees their departures more like assignments than abandonment.
So who’s this dude Crescens? This is the first, last, and only mention of his name in the entire Bible. There’s some speculation outside the NT that he might given his life for the Gospel while on mission in Galatia.
One thing is for certain, he must have been one of Paul’s go-to guys to make such an important trip to help disciples at his very first multisite church plant in the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13:13-14:23).
While Crescens is a bit of mystery man, the third man Paul mentions is much more familiar. Titus was one of Paul’s closest friends next to Timothy and possibly Luke. He’s clearly well-known over in the Corinthian church as well (2Cor 2:13; 7:6, 13-14; 8:6, 16,23; 12:18; 13:14).
Titus to Dalmatia
Last time we checked in on Titus, he was on the island of Crete. Paul instructs him to wrap up the work already started in local churches which included finding spiritual leaders (Titus 1:5). At the end of his letter to Titus, Paul asked him to meet him in Nicopolis to spend the winter together (Titus 3:12). Did the apostle send him to Dalmatia from there?
No, Titus was NOT sharing the Gospel with spotted dogs riding on firetrucks. Dalmatia is in southern Europe just north of Greece. It’s in the modern day nation of Croatia in the Balkans. Paul’s life may be on the line but the message of Jesus is on the move.
Step into Demas’ Sandals
Which brings us back to Demas. It’s easy to see ourselves as the apostle in this story. How many times has someone we thought we could trust left us swinging in the breeze at exactly the wrong moment? If you’re like most of us, you’ve lost count. You think somebody’s got your back. But when you turn around at the moment of truth, all get are crickets.
Once again, things get kinda messy for you and me at this point. Let’s all take a moment to climb down off our high horse and step into Demas’ sandals. Yeah, you read that right. How many times have I turned tail and run when times got tough? How many times have YOU quietly exited stage left when someone thought you had their back? Gulp.
Trusting in the Trustworthy
There are a couple of important takeaways. First of all, Demas’ desertion certainly breaks Paul’s heart, but the man from Tarsus knows better than to place his hope in anyone but Jesus. As he told Tim a little earlier, “if we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:13).
It’s no surprise that Christ’s faithfulness is a mega-theme throughout Scripture. Just before heading home to Heaven, the Lord promised us, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
The author of Hebrews repeats God’s pledge to Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) you” (Heb 13:5; Josh 1:5). Hey! Look! There’s that same word Paul used to describe Demas’ desertion…except this time it has a “NOT” with it!! Our Savior will never leave you hanging. Ever.
Restoring Runaways
The other big takeaway is not making the mistake of throwing Demas under the chariot. We don’t know what happened. Even if he did punk out on Paul, we don’t know if he repented and served his Savior faithfully in the future.
Think that’s not possible? In the very next verse the apostle tells Tim to bring Mark when he comes. You remember Mark. He’s the young buck who bailed on Paul and Barnabas on their first tour (Acts 13:13). Years later, Paul wants him by his side in his final days. God loves reconciling relationships and restoring runaways. It’s one of His specialties.
When Demas said, “No mas!”
Let’s not be so quick to trash Demas. First and foremost because we’ve all been a Demas to someone’s Paul. Repent and apologize to those we’ve abandoned.
At the same time, let’s do all we can to avoid Demas’ mistake. God apparently used the guy in a powerful way before this incident in Rome. Sadly that all gets overshadowed by the day he hit the road for Thessalonica. The dreadful day Demas pulled a Duran and said, “No mas!”
“No mas!”
It was the long awaited rematch between Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard. Duran was the tough-as-nails welterweight champ with the infamous hands of stone. But that night in the Superdome, Sugar Ray took control of the fight and began to taunt Duran.
Then something happened that nobody saw coming. With just seconds to go in the eighth round, the champ turned his back on Leonard and waved his boxing glove at the referee. “No mas!” That’s Spanish for “no more.” Instead of punching back, Duran punked out.
When Your Buddy Bails
So what in the Wide World of Sports does a boxer bailing in a bout have to do with an apostle in prison? According to Paul, one of his closest friends threw in the towel in the final rounds.
“For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (v10). Paul doesn’t go into specifics but his buddy has bailed. He’s been ditched by Demas.
Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock
This is probably a good time to zoom out to see the context of what’s going here. It’s sometime around 66-67 AD. The place is Rome’s Mamertine Prison, Caesar’s SuperMax. The Apostle Paul is writing what will be the last letter of his life. He’s behind bars on Death Row (2Tim 1:6, 12, 1; 2:9; 4:6-7).
With his final hours ticking down like the clock on “24,” Paul fires off a frantic note to Timothy, his spiritual son and “my beloved child” (2Tim 1:2). He writes with a pair of purposes. First, he’s officially making the handoff of ministry to the young preacher (2Tim 2:1-4:4). Second, he begs his protege for one last visit (2Tim 4:9; 21).
Which brings us to Demas’ desertion. There’s a pretty good chance that Paul needs Tim because someone who’s name starts with “D” and ends with “emas” dropped out. Or as as they say in “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” he’s done “r-u-n-n-o-f-t!”
Who Is Demas?
Just who is this guy and why did he abandon the apostle in his darkest hour? Looking back on his other mentions in the New Testament, Demas seems to be exactly the kind of guy who would stick by your side when the chips are down.
Just five years ago during a previous time in the big house, he was right there with Paul. In a letter to Colossian believers from prison, the apostle wants them to know, “Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas” (Col 4:14). During the same incarceration, he tells his friend Philemon that Ephaphras “sends his greetings to you, and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers” (Phm 23-24).
This Present World
So what changed? Why has one of the most dedicated members of Paul’s posse flown the coop? Why did Demas say “no mas”? (Okay, it probably wasn’t in Spanish but Greek.)
While the apostle doesn’t get into specifics of Demas going AWOL, he does say that he’s “in love with this present world” (v10). Paul’s buddy had a choice to make. Stay with Paul or hit the road. And it becomes crystal clear that whatever he means by the phrase “this present world,” it did not involve hanging out in a Roman dungeon.
In the prequel to this letter, Paul uses this very same phrase when writing to Timothy about the top one percent. “As for the rich in this present world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1Tim 6:17, emphasis added).
Chasing Fads
The ESV translates the Greek word αιων/aion as “world.” Just to be clear, Paul’s NOT talking about planet. This term describes an era, age or a specific time period. It can also mean the system of practices and standards associated with secular society apart from the requirements of God.
That being the case, you can literally translate that Demas “has loved the age that now is” (v10). The Message nails it by saying Paul’s partner is off “chasing fads” (v10 The Message). Instead of standing by the apostle’s side, he’s decided to chase what’s trendy, hip, and hot.
No, I’m not saying Demas dumped Paul to play Pokemon Go while putting his hair in a First Century man-bun. He simply got distracted by the current stuff of life. The right now in Demas’ life totally overwhelmed the eternal.
Hmm, sound familiar? Plenty of folks think the Bible is a dusty, old collection of well-intended but horribly outdated fairy tales. Church might have been good for Memaw back in the day, but I need something more chic. Gimme something current. Gimme something hip. Gimme something hot.
The Urgent Versus the Important
Don’t pull a Demas and mistake what’s urgent for what’s important. The Gospel allows us to look at life through the wide angle lens of eternity. We see what has enduring value. Just a hint, that value isn’t found binging the latest hot show on Netflix.
If you’re scoring at home, we’re talking about relationships. A relationship with God. Relationships with people. Those are SO important that Jesus said they are the secret sauce of obedience to the entire entire Old Testament (Mt 22:37-40; Mk 12:29-31). So, yeah, loving others is kind of a big deal. Like a big, hairy eternal deal.
Let’s put all our cards on the table. You and I are whole lot more like Demas than we are Paul. We’re probably the folks Jesus was talking about when He compared spreading the Gospel in various soil conditions. “The cares of the world (Gr. αιων/aion) and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word” and the Good News never thrives (Mk 4:19).
IN the World or OF the World?
So how do we live in “this present age” (v10) and not give in to it? How do we live IN the world and not be OF the world? Paul knew believers in Rome would face these very same challenges as we do. “Do not be conformed to this world (Gr. αιων/aion), but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2).
In other words, don’t let the culture shape you from the outside. Let God’s Word shape you from the inside. The only real hope of not falling for the latest fads is allowing the Lord give you a brand new mind. A mind just like His that thinks like He thinks. Or as Paul tells the folks in Corinth, “We have the mind of Christ” (1Cor 2:16).
Left in the Lurch
How deep was Demas’ fascination with “this present age” (v10). Well, the apostle says he “has deserted me” (v10). Paul uses a Greek verb (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) which paints a picture of abandoning someone in a desperate situation or leaving them in the lurch. It’s from a root word which means to leave destitute or distraught.
It should come as no shock that this is EXACTLY the same word used to translate Jesus’ heartbreaking cry from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) Me” (Mt 27:46). Our Savior experienced the ultimate abandonment so that we never have to. You can bet the apostle counts on that as he writes Tim.
On the Road to Thessalonica
The apostle does tell us that Demas has hit the road “and gone to Thessalonica” (v10). In the First Century, it was the capital of Macedonia. Thessalonica was a commercial hub sitting smack dab along a major Roman highway with direct access to shipping on the Aegean Sea. If this wasn’t Demas’ hometown, it certainly was a happening town.
If the name of the place rings a bell, it should. Luke records that Paul had a rather short but eventful stay in Thessalonica. Planted a church there (Acts 17:1-4). Stirred up a real hornets nest there (Acts 17:5-9). Got chased out of there (Acts 17:10). And later, wrote a couple of letters to believers there.
Crescens to Galatia
Paul tells Timothy how of a couple of other members of his team that have moved on. “Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia” (v10). Sure seems like the apostle sees their departures more like assignments than abandonment.
So who’s this dude Crescens? This is the first, last, and only mention of his name in the entire Bible. There’s some speculation outside the NT that he might given his life for the Gospel while on mission in Galatia.
One thing is for certain, he must have been one of Paul’s go-to guys to make such an important trip to help disciples at his very first multisite church plant in the cities of Pisidian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, and Derbe (Acts 13:13-14:23).
While Crescens is a bit of mystery man, the third man Paul mentions is much more familiar. Titus was one of Paul’s closest friends next to Timothy and possibly Luke. He’s clearly well-known over in the Corinthian church as well (2Cor 2:13; 7:6, 13-14; 8:6, 16,23; 12:18; 13:14).
Titus to Dalmatia
Last time we checked in on Titus, he was on the island of Crete. Paul instructs him to wrap up the work already started in local churches which included finding spiritual leaders (Titus 1:5). At the end of his letter to Titus, Paul asked him to meet him in Nicopolis to spend the winter together (Titus 3:12). Did the apostle send him to Dalmatia from there?
No, Titus was NOT sharing the Gospel with spotted dogs riding on firetrucks. Dalmatia is in southern Europe just north of Greece. It’s in the modern day nation of Croatia in the Balkans. Paul’s life may be on the line but the message of Jesus is on the move.
Step into Demas’ Sandals
Which brings us back to Demas. It’s easy to see ourselves as the apostle in this story. How many times has someone we thought we could trust left us swinging in the breeze at exactly the wrong moment? If you’re like most of us, you’ve lost count. You think somebody’s got your back. But when you turn around at the moment of truth, all get are crickets.
Once again, things get kinda messy for you and me at this point. Let’s all take a moment to climb down off our high horse and step into Demas’ sandals. Yeah, you read that right. How many times have I turned tail and run when times got tough? How many times have YOU quietly exited stage left when someone thought you had their back? Gulp.
Trusting in the Trustworthy
There are a couple of important takeaways. First of all, Demas’ desertion certainly breaks Paul’s heart, but the man from Tarsus knows better than to place his hope in anyone but Jesus. As he told Tim a little earlier, “if we are faithless, He remains faithful” (2Tim 2:13).
It’s no surprise that Christ’s faithfulness is a mega-theme throughout Scripture. Just before heading home to Heaven, the Lord promised us, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
The author of Hebrews repeats God’s pledge to Joshua, “I will never leave you nor forsake (Gr. εγκαταλειπω/egkataleipo) you” (Heb 13:5; Josh 1:5). Hey! Look! There’s that same word Paul used to describe Demas’ desertion…except this time it has a “NOT” with it!! Our Savior will never leave you hanging. Ever.
Restoring Runaways
The other big takeaway is not making the mistake of throwing Demas under the chariot. We don’t know what happened. Even if he did punk out on Paul, we don’t know if he repented and served his Savior faithfully in the future.
Think that’s not possible? In the very next verse the apostle tells Tim to bring Mark when he comes. You remember Mark. He’s the young buck who bailed on Paul and Barnabas on their first tour (Acts 13:13). Years later, Paul wants him by his side in his final days. God loves reconciling relationships and restoring runaways. It’s one of His specialties.
When Demas said, “No mas!”
Let’s not be so quick to trash Demas. First and foremost because we’ve all been a Demas to someone’s Paul. Repent and apologize to those we’ve abandoned.
At the same time, let’s do all we can to avoid Demas’ mistake. God apparently used the guy in a powerful way before this incident in Rome. Sadly that all gets overshadowed by the day he hit the road for Thessalonica. The dreadful day Demas pulled a Duran and said, “No mas!”
Jay: another great lesson. Thanks! I want to say one thing about the Matthew 27:46 statement. When Jesus, who was a high Rabbi was on the ✞, HE made 7 statements of which, "My God, my God ...". was one.
ReplyDeleteThis statement is from Psalm 22 and is what's called a remez. A remez is a communication technique in which the writer or speaker makes a statement that is readily recognized by the hearer and that automatically calls to mind the rest of the statement. For example if we were talking and I quoted "Our Father which art in heaven..." you would automatically know the rest of the quote. If I said "Mary had a little lamb..." you would know the rest of the poem and the subject matter.
Most of the quotes from Jesus from the Hebrew scriptures are in the form of a remez. He will state something and HIS listeners, most of whom had the Torah memorized and could paraphrase all of the writings and prophets, would know the rest of the quote and the thrust of the subject.
When Jesus quoted Psalm 22: 1, the Jews hearing him would know the rest of the story, which ends in "You heard their cries for help and saved them." (Psalms 22:5)
Jesus, on the ✞ took on all sin and was entirely human and in HIS humanness may have felt forsaken because of the weight of all that sin but HE always knew that GOD was with HIM.
Jesus may have felt forsaken, but HE knew, and I'm convinced, that God never turned HIS back on HIS Son, our Savior.
My thanks to my very good friend Lanny for helping me with this.