2 Timothy 4:10 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Having loved this present world,— If we consider St. Paul's present situation, we shall be inclined to believe that Demas was influenced to this conduct by a love to the present life, or world, not to any principles of the Judaizers; by a dread of persecution, and the fear of a violent death—such as the apostle himself was in danger of, and such as he shortly after actually suffered. So imminent was the danger of standing by the apostle, or appearing with or for him, that when he made his first apology, all the Christians forsook him: about that time it was thatDemas, out of a sense of the impending danger, or an excessive love of this present life, or from an unwillingness to die a martyr with the apostle, left Rome, and went to Thessalonica, where he might be out of danger, when the apostle thought he should have gone elsewhere; or rather, perhaps, have stayed, and run all hazards with him, in defence of the glorious gospel of Christ.