Demas

One of Paul's co-workers during his first imprisonment, he is mentioned as one of those who sent greetings in the apostle's letters to the church in Colossia—"Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings" (Col 4:14)—and to Philemon—"Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers" (Philm 1:24).

A sad thing happened and we hear of him next in one of Paul's final letters, when Paul urges Timothy to "do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica" (2 Tim 4:9-10).

Demas stands as testimony to the sad fact, and fearful warning, that those who have already established a reputation for their good work in the ministry can still be tempted into gain and the desertion of their devotion to the things of God.

The name Demas is a pet-name for Demetrius. On this basis, some have speculated that this co-worker of Paul was the Demetrius spoken of so highly by John in 3 Jn 1:12. This is just pure conjecture; the name Demetrius was too common to make it likely.