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libation of those last few drops of his heart's blood, of which the rich full stream has for
these long years been flowing forth upon God's altar in willing sacrifice" (Farrar).
We must now give some attention to the list of names that the apostle, in spite of his
cares and condition, remembered and wrote.
The first is Demas. This man is mentioned in Colossians and in Philemon:
"Luke, the beloved physician and Demas, greet you" (Col. 4: 14).
"Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow labourers" (Philemon 24).
These epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon, are related. Onesimus was a
Colossian (4: 9), and Philemon was his master, and to both the Church at Colosse and
Philemon, Demas sends greetings. In the salutation sent to Philemon Demas is
mentioned before Luke. When we read the list of names in the fourth chapter of
Colossians, and arrive at the words "and Demas", we are conscious of something strange.
Tychicus is first mentioned, and he is called:
"A beloved brother, and a faithful minister and a fellow servant in the Lord" (Col. 4: 7).
Yet all that Paul says is "and Demas", not "brother", "minister", nor "fellow". The
omission in any book or letter would be striking, but in an epistle of Paul it is ominous.
Onesimus is described as "a faithful and beloved brother" (9).
Aristarchus, is "my fellow prisoner" (10).
Marcus is "sister's son to Barnabas . . . . . receive him" (10).
Jesus, called Justus is a "fellow worker" and a "comfort" as were all those previously
mentioned (11).
Epaphras is a fervent labourer (12).
Luke is "the beloved physician" (14).
Nymphas is marked off as having "the church" in his house, and Archippus is exhorted
to fulfil his ministry (15, 17).
No name is mentioned in this list, without some note of recognition, of
commendation, of grateful remembrance. Moreover, it is evident that Paul did not scatter
his praise without thought and reason. He is lavish in his praise of Tychicus, he is
moderate in his praise of Marcus and Justus, and the very fact that he appears concerned
to render all their due, makes the unqualified words "and Demas" stand out all the more.
Paul evidently perceived that Demas' loyalty was being undermined. However Demas
may eventually betray Paul, Paul will not betray Demas. He cannot and will not,
however, indulge in fulsome flattery, no man was less likely to use words of mere
conventional praise than the apostle. The breaking point with Demas appears to have
been the re-arrest of Paul, and the extreme danger in which any "christian" then stood,
but the fact that Demas broke under the strain is revealed in the fact that rottenness had
crept into his fibre.
"Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto
Thessalonica" (II Tim. 4: 10).