Who Was Demas and What Do We Learn from His Errors?

Before we look at Demas, let me ask if you have ever worked side by side with someone and trusted them, only to have them forsake you when the going got tough. I have. It’s one thing to have an enemy wrong you. But it hurts on a whole new level to have someone you trust forsake you when you need them most.

Having someone forget your kindness is not new. Abraham looked out for his nephew Lot after Lot’s father passed away. But when their growing herds caused a turf war between their herdsmen, Abraham let Lot choose where he wanted to settle. Lot chose a prosperous city and the lushest pastureland, leaving his Uncle Abraham with the leftovers. Lot appears to have loved the things of this world more than he loved God. His choice brought devastating losses to Lot and his family. Yet the New Testament calls Lot a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7).

Perhaps Demas is a New Testament Lot. At one time he ministered alongside such greats as the Apostle Paul and doctor Luke. Yet, like Lot, he forsook this company of believers to pursue the pleasures of this life. And he left when Paul apparently needed him most.

Who Was Demas and Where Do We See Him in Scripture?

We know Paul at one time trusted Demas. Paul included his name among such respected Christ-followers as Luke. “Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (Col. 4:14). But after serving with Paul and other great people of faith, Demas later forsook them.

The Bible mentions Demas in three places. Two times Paul includes him in a place of honor as a fellow worker spreading the Gospel.

“Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (Col. 4:14).

“Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers” (Philemon 23-34).

However, while Paul awaited execution, his reference to Demas reveals a sad turn. “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica” (2 Timothy 4:10). Chronologically, that is the last biblical mention of Demas.

Why Did Demas Turn Away from Paul and the Ministry?

Paul said Demas deserted him because he loved this present world. He left Paul and headed to Thessalonica, a large, wealthy, cosmopolitan city. James warned that “friendship with the world is hostility toward God” (James 4:4). The desire to enjoy the pleasures of this world caused him to turn his back on his friend and mentor, and on the Lord.

Perhaps the sacrifice of serving alongside Paul began to wear on him. He saw other men his age settling down and enjoying the pleasures of this life. Would it be so wrong to sample the good life?

Then Demas looked at Paul, who had suffered so much for Christ. And what was his reward? Pending execution. Was that how God took care of His servants?

We don’t know the turmoil inside of Demas or how long he wrestled with his doubleminded loyalty before he caved into following the lure of this world. Neither do we know if he ever tired of the world and returned to serve Jesus. What we do know, is that Demas abandoned Paul while he was in prison awaiting execution.

The biblical record shows Demas wasn’t the first fellow missionary to desert Paul. On an earlier missionary journey with Barnabas, John, called Mark, broke trust with Paul when he left their mission team to return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). Later Mark experienced a change of heart. But Paul no longer trusted him. When Barnabas wanted to give Mark a second chance and include him in a later mission trip, Paul flatly refused. So, Paul and Barnabas separated. Barnabas set off with Mark, and Paul left with Silas (Acts 15:37-40).

Years later, however, Paul had to acknowledge that Mark had proved trustworthy. In his letter to Timothy reporting Demas’s sad choice, Paul added, “Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11). I wonder if writing about Demas had reminded him of his disappointment with Mark so many years ago.

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What Can We Learn from This?

A man in ministry once asked me if I ever tired of listening to sermons. His question startled me. Editing recorded sermons was part of his job. I got the idea he’d confused listening to what other people received from their Bible and walk with God with nurturing his own relationship with God. I thought of that years later when I learned he and his wife had divorced and married friends.

Did Demas substitute listening to Paul with following the Lord? Demas warns of the danger of substituting a relationship with strong believers for a growing relationship with Christ. Listening to Paul preach was wonderful. But Demas also needed to listen to Jesus and personally follow Him.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27).

Ministry activity can’t replace loving the Lord. Hanging out with the spiritually committed is wise. But it’s no substitute for practicing the presence of Jesus ourselves. We need to individually protect and nurture our love relationship with the Lord. We must establish and protect such spiritual disciplines as reading and meditating on the Bible, prayer, practicing God’s presence, and fellowshipping with fellow believers.

We need an eternal perspective. The pull of the world is very real. Spiritual warfare is also real. No one is immune to the schemes of the devil.

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12).

An eternal perspective helped Moses walk away from a palace and safety to follow the Lord.

“It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26).

Yes, many of God’s saints like Paul suffer in this life for following the Lord. But as Paul, who was granted a vision of heaven, wrote, “Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ” (Philippians 3:8).

Paul also wrote, “Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later” (Romans 8:18).

Persevere to the End

We are living in a world that has become increasingly hostile toward Christians and biblical values. Jesus said that in the world we’d experience trouble. Expect it and hang in there. He offers peace now and a crown later for those who persevere to the end.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them” (1 John 2:15).

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him” (James 1:12).

I hope Demas returned to the Lord as Mark did. But whether he did or not, may we learn from his weakness and strengthen ourselves in the Lord every day. Let’s follow the path of Jesus, Paul, and James—not Demas.

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Debbie W. Wilson is an award-winning author, Bible teacher, and former Christian counselor who speaks and writes to connect fellow sojourners to the heart of Christ. Her books include Give Yourself a Break, Little Women, Big God, and Little Faith, Big God. 

She and her husband lead Lighthouse Ministries, a non-profit Christian counseling and Bible teaching ministry. Despite time in Boston, the Midwest, and Southern California, Debbie still says y’all. Her family, which includes two mischievous standard poodles, calls North Carolina home. Connect with Debbie, find free resources, and learn about her books at debbieWwilson.com.