2 Timothy 4:10, commentary and pictures

Paul wrote in his final dangerous imprisonment, old and weak and confined, after his steadfast assistant Demas grew dismayed by increasing danger and difficulty and deserted him for love of worldly life and ease and safety to go to Thessalonica. Crescens and Titus did not desert as Demas did but left for Galatia and Dalmatia on missions Paul assigned to the churches, leaving only Luke to remain with him for companionship and practical help including writing for him, so his loneliness came partly from desertion and partly from necessary absence. Demas had been a convert received into full communion and counted a believer before he forsook Paul and the cause of Christ, choosing the world before Christ. That love of the present world was a short-sighted exchange of every high and noble consideration for worldly gain, wealth, or honor that left him spiritually poor however much he gained, while those who choose to suffer for Christ possess eternal riches as heirs of God with Christ for whom a home in heaven is prepared. The warning is that all must see their weakness and remedy faults of character or they will surely become as Demas, drawn into worldly projects and making shipwreck of faith, a course repeated whenever professed believers or workers leave the truth and the ministry for gain, yet such departures do not make the ministry less sacred and must not shake faith, but call for trust that the Lord will deliver from every evil work and preserve unto His heavenly kingdom.

Setting and Departures

This is Paul's word to Timothy, the first bishop of the church at Ephesus, after Paul had been brought a second time before Nero to witness with his life to the faith he held. It was written during his final, dangerous imprisonment, when he was old and weak and confined. Demas had for a time stood steadfast as one of his assistants at Rome. Then, dismayed by the growing danger and increasing difficulty, loving worldly life and seeking ease and safety, he deserted Paul and departed to Thessalonica.

The departures of Crescens to Galatia and Titus to Dalmatia were of a different kind, for they did not desert like Demas but left on missions Paul had assigned them to the churches. The verse is part of Paul's account of companions who had left him near the end of his ministry. Only Luke remained with him, giving needed companionship and practical help, including serving as his amanuensis so he could still communicate with others. Thus his loneliness came partly from the desertion of some friends and partly from the necessary absence of others.

Before he forsook Paul, Demas had been a convert to Christianity received into full communion with the church and counted a believer.

Love of World Warns

Demas forsook Paul and the cause of Christ because he loved this present world, choosing the world before Christ and departing to Thessalonica. His choice is part of Paul's account of companions who left him near the end of his ministry, and stands as a final warning and instruction for Timothy's profit. His course is acted out over and over again when professed believers leave the truth and God's workers for the world.

That love meant bartering every high and noble consideration for worldly gain, for worldly wealth or honor. The exchange was short-sighted and unwise, for possessing only what the world gives left him spiritually poor indeed, however much he might proudly call his own. By contrast, those who choose to suffer for Christ's sake, like Mark, possess eternal riches and will be heirs of God with Christ, even if they lack a home on earth, for the Saviour is preparing a home for them in heaven.

The verse warns against rooting hope so firmly in earthly things that it cannot be set on the hope of paradise, and points to self-denial at the cross as the way to true happiness. It warns that all must see their weakness and strive to remedy faults of character, or they will surely become as Demas, drawn away from safe paths into worldly projects and ambitious plans, and so make shipwreck of faith. Choosing the world before Christ is the cause of the failure of many who claim to be Christians, like those who hear the truth but do not let it transform their lives and turn away when faithfulness becomes difficult.

His course is acted out over and over when professed believers leave the truth and God's workers for the world and when workers leave the ministry because they love gain or the present world. Such departures bring disappointment and discouragement to those laboring with clear arguments and earnest effort to save souls, with sorrow and disappointing results. His example, as one who had been counted a believer but forsook Paul, shows that unworthy or false believers may be found among the church's members, since good and bad are gathered into the church.

Such departures do not make the ministry itself less sacred or worthy of respect, and do not justify belittling or neglecting it. Therefore workers must not fail or be overwhelmed. When believers pass over the same ground as Paul, and teachers once with them deny the faith and work against the truth they once advocated, they should not lose faith and confidence in God but trust that the Lord will deliver from every evil work and preserve unto His heavenly kingdom. The chapter stands as Paul's solemn charge and final warning and instruction for Timothy's profit, to be read for encouragement by those who are faithful in their service for God amid corrupt morals around them.