The reader will remember that the very fact that Paul said nothing about Demas in

Col. 4:, was an indication that he could not say anything good.

We are told why Demas forsook Paul, he "loved this present world". Why he went to

Thessalonica we can only conjecture. The apostle tells us that he had sent Tychicus to

Ephesus (II Tim. 4: 12) and that he had left Trophimus at Miletus sick. These are

therefore accounted for. We have a sinking at heart however when we read straight on

from the betrayal of Demas, without comment or qualification. "Crescens to Galatia,

Titus unto Dalmatia" (II Tim. 4: 10). The verb that one naturally supplies is the word

used of Demas who "departed" to Thessalonica.

Demas "departed" to Thessalonica,

Crescens "departed" to Galatia,

Titus "departed" to Dalmatia.

We know nothing of Crescens, but Titus we do know. He had, the years before, been

summoned from Crete to join the apostle at Nicopolis (Titus 3: 12). Dalmatia lies North

of Nicopolis, and it may have been that Paul's determination to winter at Nicopolis was

cut short by the Roman authorities, and that Titus had continued on from Nicopolis to

Dalmatia, to complete the work in Illyricum which the apostle then knew that he himself

would never finish. Possibly Paul linked Demas and Titus together, not because they had

both forsaken him, but that for whatever reason, good or bad, he was deprived of their

fellowship and presence.

Demas had gone, so had Crescens, so had Titus. One after another had been called

upon to leave him. Sickness had claimed Trophimus, and for some unexplained reason

Erasmus abode at Corinth, where he had been Chamberlain (Rom. 16: 23).

"Only Luke is with me."

Paul was not only in deadly peril, but so also would all be who sought him out and

associated with him.

No longer did Paul enjoy the fellowship of friends as he had in the previous

imprisonment at Rome. He now suffered as a "malefactor". One by one his friends