What does 2 Timothy 4:10 mean?

This verse offers one important reason that Paul wanted Timothy to visit him in Rome: most of his companions had left him. At this point in time, simply being a Christian in Rome was dangerous. Few people were willing to proclaim their faith, let alone go to a prison to associate with a targeted believer like Paul.

Three specific men are mentioned in this verse. First is Demas, who had served as part of Paul's ministry team during Paul's house arrest in Rome in AD 60—62 (Colossians 4:14; Philemon 1:24). This verse makes for a sad end to the Bible's description of the man. Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24 referred to Demas as one of Paul's Christian companions. Here, he is said to have loved this world more than his work as an evangelist. So, he left Paul and the other believers and went to Thessalonica.

Second, Paul refers to the name Crescens. This person is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament and little is known about him. He was a believer who served Paul at some point during Paul's second Roman imprisonment and had later gone to Galatia. He may have been from Galatia originally. If so, he would have been one of the believers written to in Paul's letter to the Galatians. Whether he was a church leader there or not is uncertain. Unlike Demas, the reason he left is not mentioned. This leaves open the possibility that he left on better terms than Demas did.

Third, Titus had left for Dalmatia. Titus is most likely the same Christian leader addressed in Paul's letter bearing his name. The reason for his trip to Dalmatia is unknown, though likely for evangelistic purposes. Not all of the people who "left" Paul abandoned him.