2 Timothy 4:9, 10 Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
One of the big ideas about pastoral ministry in recent years has been team ministry. The truth is that most pastors have had to work as part of a team. That is certainly how Paul worked and how he thought of himself. In the closing chapter of 2 Timothy he mentions several co-workers. In verses 9 and 10 five are mentioned, two of them being Gospel writers. Their mention highlights four ways in which fellow team workers may be a help (or a hindrance). There are deserters, disappointments turned good, those who move on and those who stay. Demas, of course, was a disappointment. Back in Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 24 all appears to be well and Paul says nothing untoward about him. But by this time, love for the world has led Demas to desert Paul and to go to Thessalonica on his own initiative. There is no reason to believe he was ever restored. What a sobering fact. In the case of Mark the story is much happier in that there was a time when for good reason Paul thought him unreliable and a disappointment but he can now write Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. We should not be too quick to write people off. In between these two we learn about Crescens and Titus, one having gone to Galatia and the other to Dalmatia, where they were no doubt very much needed, although Paul would clearly have loved to have had them with him. The sadness and relief in the phrase Only Luke is with me is palpable. One man ministry is neither desirable nor truly possible. The team will often encourage but there will be disappointments along the way as well.
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