Demas' Defection

“For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.” 2 Timothy 4:10

This verse is often cited as a warning to believers of the dangers of worldliness, and rightly so. However, could it be that the phrase, “having loved this present world,” is talking about a type of worldliness other than the “carnal” worldliness often associated with this passage? Could the phrase be a reference to Demas’ fear of a martyr’s death, as he faced the reality that Paul would be executed for the Faith?

Three observations should be considered in relation to this passage.

1) Demas’ forsaking is due to his love of this present world (nun aion).
Paul’s usage of this phrase occurs in one other place and that is in Titus 2:12, in which he exhorts believers to “live godly in this present world.” Other similar Pauline usages are found in Romans 8:18 (“sufferings of this present time”), Romans 11:5 (“at this present time also there is a remnant”), and Galatians 1:4 (“deliver us from this present evil world”). Therefore, Paul’s broad usage of the phrase “this present world” could leave open the possibility that Paul was referring to Demas’ aversion to dying a martyr’s death.

2) Paul knows that Demas is heading to Thessalonica.
This fact could imply that Demas was in fact a Thessalonian. Perhaps Paul knew that he would head to a place he felt safe and protected?

3) Demas does not seem to be alone in his departure.
Paul knows where the other two, Crescens and Titus, are heading as well. Did all three abandon Paul or did Paul dismiss the latter two to their appointed destinations and Demas alone abandon him?

Certainly, if Demas’ forsaking was due to a fear of death, rather than “carnal” worldliness, it would change one’s sympathies toward Demas, though it would not excuse his actions. On a personal note: What would we do if we were in Demas’ shoes, facing what Demas was facing? Would a situation like being closely identified with a fellow-believer who was going to be executed by the powers that be expose any weaknesses in our faith? Would we be willing to be faithful to the end, risking our own lives, or would we too forsake, having loved this present world?

Historically, Baptist people have always been willing to sacrifice for the sake of the truth and the freedom to practice it, even to the point of death. As twenty-first century Baptists, we have absolutely no experience with real persecution and are completely untested with regard to how we might respond in the face of severe persecution or martyrdom. If the response to the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 is any indication of how Bible-believing, Baptist people would respond to such a test, the results are not good. Baptist people easily demonstrated their willingness to comply with government mandates and to compromise the practice of truth to preserve life. By the way, the same Greek word behind Demas’ forsaking is used in the warning in Hebrews 10:25 about forsaking the assembling of ourselves together. It is well documented that churches forsook assembling, at least for a time, especially in politically oppressive states and counties. More than one pastor is reporting that some who forsook are still forsaking. It is not the author’s intent to be critical, but rather to be observant of the fact that, as twenty-first century Baptists in America, we are not very well prepared or hardened spiritually to stand for the truth in the face of serious persecution and to lay down our lives for the same if necessary. What should we as individual believers and churches be doing to prepare for the increased persecution that may lie ahead in our future? Perhaps more could be said on that in the future.