2 Timothy 4:9-16

vs 9 please be urgent! Paul was arrested and suffering

vs 10 Why does Paul need Timothy?

He is all alone besides Luke

Demas:

Portrayed as a faithful servant in philemon 24 alonside mark and luke

also serving alongside luke in colossians 4:14.

also serving alongside luke in colossians 4:14.

He was a Gentile

He was a Gentile

This tells us that he was a convert who began to travel as a missionary with Paul’s ministry team.

This tells us that he was a convert who began to travel as a missionary with Paul’s ministry team.

deserted Paul because he was in love with this present world

at first glance this may sound like demas deserted for money or security

as we have been reminded throughout this letter. Paul is very concerned about truth and has written to Timothy particularly about truth. Perhaps Demas inspired Paul to talk about those who have itching ears.

In greek Paul has some options to describe world here.

ge (planet earth, humanity)

kosmos (created universe with or without inhabitants)

aion (age, era,age of reason, etc)

Demas did not love the physical earth or the physical things. Demas love the age or era he was in. He was swayed by the teaching and the way people thought in his time. He was swayed by culture and human wisdom. He was swayed away for Paul’s life that from a worldy view seemed silly.

Demas set his affections on the world order not on the kingdom of God

1 Corinthians 2:6–7 ESV

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.

English Standard Version Chapter 2

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory

Some theologians of suspect that Demas went to thessalonica because he was among those who questions Paul’s teaching on the resurection and being caught up in mythology went to thessalonica where this was a common teaching.

So we have Demas as the one who left Paul after being swayed to doubt Paul’s teaching and Jesus’ as the way and the truth.

This is noteworthy, We see people fall all the time. People we don’t expect. This was part of Paul’s ministry team who spent time on the road. Like Judas, there will always be people who for a time look like Christians. But Paul tells us if they are not real they will not last. How easy is it for us to one step away from some like Demas or Judas.

Crescens:

Not mentioned anywhere else, unclear where is Galatia

Titus:

Paul’s Gentile disciple and a showcase as one of the earliest prominent followers of Jesus not to be circumcised. He was strategically left to lead the Corinthian church later served as an example to the Galations

to Dalmatia (modern day croatia where Paul had previously evangelized)

Perhaps both were sent to strengthen places Paul had planted.

vs 11. Luke alone is present. Not necessarily because Paul was deserted. Only Demas is portrayed in a negative sense. The others so far are ministry companions off taking care of the churches

The point here is that Paul has a very limited support system at the moment and asking for Timothy and Mark.

Mark:

the same john mark who was cousins to Barnabas and also caved under pressure to Jewish peer pressuring to the point that Paul at one point refused to travel with him

Paul did not take accountability of his companions lightly but apparently forgave Mark

Mark may be working alongside Timothy or be stationed somewhere along Timothy’s route to Paul.

vs 12. Tychicus is being sent to Timothy’s current location (Timothy will be relieved of his dutys a replacement is coming so that he can come help Paul)

Tychicus:

a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord col 4:7

Appeared to also relieve Titus so that he could come to Paul at one point. He was someone trusted to lead a church in truth and someone with a trust character to help gather the collection for the Jerusalem church. He was a man of integrity and character.