Meaning of the Name Demas

Demas is a Greek name, and many scholars think it may be a shortened form of a longer name, possibly something like Demetrius. For that reason, its precise meaning is not fully settled. The safest conclusion is that it belongs to the Greco-Roman naming world and may represent an abbreviated personal name.

Origin

The name Demas is of Greek; exact derivation is debated origin.

Who is Demas in the Bible?

Demas is first mentioned among Paul's coworkers, but he is later remembered as one who left Paul because he loved 'this present world.' For that reason, he stands in the New Testament as a sobering example of broken partnership and failed perseverance.

The story of Demas in the Bible

The New Testament story of Demas is a short but striking tale of a promising beginning and a sobering end. He first appears in the closing lines of Colossians, sending greetings alongside Luke, the beloved physician. In the letter to Philemon, Paul again counts him among his fellow workers, together with Mark, Aristarchus, and Luke. These two mentions show Demas as one of the trusted companions who stood with Paul during his imprisonment. The picture changes, however, in 2 Timothy, widely regarded as Paul's final letter. Writing near the end of his life, Paul says that Demas, in love with the present age, had deserted him and gone off to Thessalonica. Scripture gives no details of the parting and says nothing of what became of Demas afterward. He is remembered as a reminder that a good start can be left unfinished, and that faithfulness is not a single decision but a walk sustained to the end.

Is Demas mentioned in the Quran?

The name Demas does not appear in the Quran; he is known only from the New Testament, first as one of Paul's fellow workers and later as the man who deserted him.

Verses where Demas appears