For Demas hath forsaken me, having {d} loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

(d) Contented himself with this world.

People's New Testament

4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me. Demas is named in Col 4:14 Phm 1:24 favorably, but in the time of trial has courage failed. Death seemed to threaten, and as he clung to life, he fled.

Crescens. Not named elsewhere.

Titus. Well known as one of Paul's companions. See superscription in 2Co 13:14. See also Ga 2:1 Titus 1:4.

Dalmatia. The district east of the Adriatic in Illyricum, where we know churches were already planted. It is likely he was there by Paul's orders. See Titus 3:12.

Wesley's Notes

4:10 Demas - Once my fellowlabourer, Phm 1:24. Hath forsaken me. Crescens, probably a preacher also, is gone, with my consent, to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, having now left Crete. These either went with him to Rome, or visited him there.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

10. Demas-once a "fellow laborer" of Paul, along with Mark and Luke (Col 4:14; Phm 24). His motive for forsaking Paul seems to have been love of worldly ease, safety, and comforts at home, and disinclination to brave danger with Paul (Mt 13:20, 21, 22). Chrysostom implies that Thessalonica was his home.

Galatia-One oldest manuscript supports the reading "Gaul." But most oldest manuscripts, &c., "Galatia."

Titus-He must have therefore left Crete after "setting in order" the affairs of the churches there (Tit 1:5).

Dalmatia-part of the Roman province of Illyricum on the coast of the Adriatic. Paul had written to him (Tit 3:12) to come to him in the winter to Nicopolis (in Epirus), intending in the spring to preach the Gospel in the adjoining province of Dalmatia. Titus seems to have gone thither to carry out the apostle's intention, the execution of which was interrupted by his arrest. Whether he went of his own accord, as is likely, or was sent by Paul, which the expression "is departed" hardly accords with, cannot be positively decided. Paul here speaks only of his personal attendants having forsaken him; he had still friends among the Roman Christians who visited him (2Ti 4:21), though they had been afraid to stand by him at his trial (2Ti 4:16).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

4:9-13 The love of this world, is often the cause of turning back from the truths and ways of Jesus Christ. Paul was guided by Divine inspiration, yet he would have his books. As long as we live, we must still learn. The apostles did not neglect human means, in seeking the necessaries of life, or their own instruction. Let us thank the Divine goodness in having given us so many writings of wise and pious men in all ages; and let us seek that by reading them our profiting may appear to all.