2 Timothy 4:9

Verse 9. Demas hath, and so forth The Demas here mentioned, is the same that was at Rome with Saint Paul in his first voyage, in 61 or 62, and of whom he makes mention in his epistle to the Colossians, (4:14) also in that to Philemon, verse 24. He was perverted in this last voyage, in 65, and abandoned his master in the time of danger. It is not ascertained whether he entirely renounced his faith, or whether God gave his grace to rise from his fall; or whether the love of the world, with which Saint Paul here reproaches him, was only a passing fault, and an effect of pure human infirmity. S. Epiphanius (hæres. 51.) presumes that he renounced the faith, and was engaged in the heresies of Cerintus, Ebion, and others, who held Jesus Christ to be no more than a mere man. Many moderns, Grotius, Men. Cornel. and so forth believed that he returned with Saint Paul: and Estius himself seems to think that he was the same Demas of which S. Ignatius speaks, writing to the Magnesians, calling him a worthy bishop of God. But this is founded on a false supposition, that this letter was written during his first confinement at Rome, or at least before Saint Paul wrote his epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon. Calmet.—Loving this world; that is his safety, and to avoid persecutions. Witham.