Who was Demetrius in the Bible?

Fellow-labourer with Paul at Rome, Col. 4:14; Philemon 24; of whom Paul had to write some five years later, "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed to Thessalonica." 2 Tim. 4:10. This may signify, not that he had apostatised, but that he had fallen from Paul's line of things through love of this present age.

Silversmith of Ephesus, who made silver shrines of the temple. Fearing that the preaching of Paul against idolatry would lessen the gains of himself and others, he raised an uproar. Acts 19:24, 38.

(3) Demetrius This servant of the Lord occupies a remarkable place, though no account whatever is given of his labours. First, he has "good report," better, "is testified to," or, "has witness borne to him" by all, not by all men, but by all the saints. In the next place he is "testified to" by the truth itself. The probable meaning of this is thus stated by a well-known writer: "I suppose that the latter (Demetrius) had propagated it, and that the establishment and confirmation of the truth everywhere - at least where he had laboured - was a testimony with regard to himself." Lastly, the apostle himself united in the testimony to Demetrius, and he adds, "Ye know that our record is true." (v. 12.) Naturally we world have liked to know more of such a blameless servant, one of such good repute; but this is all the information vouchsafed. Still, it is a singular honour to have such a record in the pages of the word of God.

A number of craftsmen earned their living by making silver shrines for Diana. One of them, Demetrius by name, felt that if Christianity were to continue to make the inroads on the ranks of idol-worshippers, as it had been doing, their living would be in danger. He called his fellow-craftsmen together and pointed out this danger. This enraged them, and they began to cry out, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians.” The cry was contagious, and the whole city was soon in an uproar. They caught Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s companions in travel, and rushed with one accord to the theatre. Paul, with the courage that ever marked him, was about to go in there to the people, but the disciples held him back. Certain of the chief of Asia, who were his friends, begged him to refrain from endangering his life by going into the theatre.

Confusion reigned, and many did not know what they were shouting about. They drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. He essayed to speak, but when the multitude gathered that he was a Jew, for two hours they shouted themselves hoarse, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!”

But while Paul was thus making arrangements for another Journey, the enemy was planning a fresh attack. His resources were not yet exhausted. Demetrius excites the thoughtless multitude against the Christians. A great tumult is raised, the passions of men being stirred up against the instruments of the testimony of God. The workmen of Demetrius raise the cry, not only that their craft is in danger but that the temple of the great goddess Diana is in danger of being despised. When the multitude heard these things, they were filled with wrath, and cried, saying, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians!" The whole city was now filled with confusion; but Paul was mercifully preserved — by his brethren, and by some of the chief rulers in Asia, who were his friends — from showing himself in the theatre

The Jews evidently began to fear, that the persecution might be turned against themselves, for the majority of the people knew not for what purpose they had come together. They therefore put forth a certain Alexander, probably with the intention of shifting the blame from themselves upon the Christians; but the moment the heathen discovered that he was a Jew, their fury was increased: the rallying cry was again raised, and for two whole hours the people shouted "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." Fortunately for all parties, the town clerk was a man of great tact and admirable policy. He flattered, calmed, soothed, and dismissed the assembly. But to faith it was God using the persuasive eloquence of a heathen official to protect His servant and His many children there.

The far-famed temple of Diana was reckoned by the ancients as one of the wonders of the world; the sun, it was said, saw nothing in his course more magnificent than Diana's temple. It was constructed of the purest marble, and was two hundred and twenty years in building. But with the spread of Christianity it sank into decay, and scarcely anything of it now remains to show us even where it stood. The trade of Demetrius was to make small models in silver of the shrine of the goddess. These were set up in houses, kept as memorials, and carried about on journeys. But as the introduction of Christianity necessarily affected the sale of these models, the heathen artisans were instigated by Demetrius to raise a popular cry in favour of Diana and against the Christians.

(V. 12). Finally, the Apostle brings before us in Demetrius one who was well known to “all”. We may conclude, therefore, that he was one of the gifted servants who moved about amongst “all” the Lord's people ministering the Word.

He had three marks that every labouring servant may well covet. Firstly, he had a “good report of all.” It is evident, then, that he was not a vain, self-assertive man, seeking a prominent place, nor a malicious gossiper, prating against others. Had he been such, he would never have had a good report of all men. Moreover, the truth was so exemplified in Demetrius that it witnessed to him a good report. Had it been otherwise, the truth would have condemned him. Lastly, as he walked in accordance with the example and teaching of the apostles, they also witnessed to his integrity and devotedness.

John does not leave us with the sad picture of Diotrephes. "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God; but he that doeth evil hath not seen God." It is another one of the tests as we found them in the First Epistle. Doing good is the active service of love. God does not do evil, but He does good, hence if we do good as believers in truth, we are of God. Then he mentions Demetrius. Perhaps he was one of the servants who went about doing good, preaching the truth, and whom Diotrephes would not receive. How blessed that the Holy Spirit through John's letter endorses and recommends him. "Demetrius hath good report of all, and of the truth itself; yea, and we also bear record, and ye know that our record is true. " Such is the comfort of all true servants who walk in the truth, that the Lord knoweth. "I have many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee. But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name." Both Epistles end, with a coming face to face meeting. Let us remember there is to be some blessed day a "face to face" meeting, when the saints of God will meet together for eternal fellowship, but above all when we shall be face to face with Him. How soon it may be! But while we wait for that meeting may we walk in the light and in the fullest enjoyment of our fellowship with the Father and with His Son, our blessed Lord. To Him be glory and dominion for ever. Amen.

409 A certain man, Demetrius, gained large sums from the manufacture of little silver shrines to Diana, because this Diana was celebrated in the entire pagan world; and her temple was one of the seven wonders of the world (v. 27). Incited by the desire for gain, he assembles the craftsmen to oppose the truth which was destroying all their trade (v. 25, 26), the truth which shewed that gods made with hands were no gods. How deep the gloom into which man, without God, and by his very need of a God, throws himself!

Not only were their gains at stake, but the importance of their goddess and of their city was in danger of being destroyed. They do not say, "Great is Diana," but "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." The knowledge of the true God makes our own nothingness felt, and judges the state of the heart; but in a false religion there is an alliance with the passions of the heart. The worshippers are great according to the measure of their religion, and of that which they worship. If the Diana of the Ephesians was great, the Ephesians themselves were important according to her importance. To despise Diana was to detract from the greatness of her followers. Gain and importance were the two things which accompanied the worship of this goddess. Such was the source of the passions awakened by a few clever words from Demetrius. Such is the religion of the natural heart, which however feels the need of a God. It is a false religion which does not act on the conscience, unless perhaps to produce fear, if God be against it; but which nourishes human passions, and allies itself with the malice of the heart against truth.

He goes so far, with regard to the truth, as to say, that the truth itself bore witness to Demetrius. I suppose that the latter had propagated it, and that the establishment and confirmation of the truth everywhere — at least where he had laboured — was a testimony with regard to himself.

However, Satan could not stand by and see one of his great strongholds attacked and weakened by the power of the Spirit of God. He succeeds in working upon the greed of Demetrius, a silversmith, to suggest to him that Paul's doctrine was robbing him of customers for his idolatrous silver shrines. Calling together other such silversmiths, he impresses them with the need of protecting their financial interests. This is his first consideration, though he adds that Paul's teaching was also endangering the magnificence of their great goddess Diana. He knew well that this latter accusation would likely have more weight with the people. His fellow-tradesmen recognized this too, and being angry at the prospect of losing any trade, began an uproar by crying out in the streets, "Great is Diana of the Ephesians."

The main subject of the first part is walking in truth. Then John writes of brothers who served the assemblies by preaching the Word of God in various places. These Gaius kindly received but they were not received by Diotrephes who loved to have the pre-eminence among them. Finally, a certain Demetrius is mentioned as a positive example.