4:10a

because: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as because indicates that Paul was about to give Timothy some reasons why he wanted him to come and visit him. Another common English translation for this word is “for.”

Demas: Demas had been a fellow worker of Paul the first time that Paul had been in prison in Rome. (See Philemon 24 and Colossians 4:14.) Demas had been in Rome again during this second time Paul was in jail, but he had left without Paul’s approval.

in his love of this world: This means that Demas preferred to enjoy what he thought were the good things in this world. It also included the customs and practices that people did to please themselves at that time. Paul used the expression this world in 1 Timothy 6:17 with the same meaning.

Although Paul was disappointed that Demas abandoned him, he did not say that Demas was no longer a believer.

has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica: Thessalonica is the name of a town that was in the Roman province of Macedonia. Today that area is part of the country of Greece. Paul and Timothy had been there together in earlier times. (See Acts 16:3–17:15.)

4:10b

Crescens has gone to Galatia: The second reason that Paul wanted Timothy to come to him was because Crescens had gone to Galatia. Your translation should also show this connection to 4:9. One way to do this is to say, “Also, Crescens….”

Crescens:
Crescens is the name of a man who had been with Paul in Rome. Paul did not imply that Crescens (and Titus, 4:10c) had disobeyed him or abandoned him by leaving. He probably had sent him to preach the good news about Jesus Christ. He was just pointing out another reason why he needed Timothy.

No other passage in the New Testament mentions Crescens.

Galatia: Galatia was a Roman province located in the center of the area that is now the country of Turkey.

4:10c

and Titus to Dalmatia: This statement is the third reason in Paul’s list.

The verb in this clause is missing in the Berean Standard Bible (and in the Greek) because the original readers would understand it to be the same verb as Paul used in 4:10a and 4:10b, that is, “has gone.”

Titus: Titus was a Greek man who believed in Christ. He was one of the men whom Paul trusted to help him to establish churches when Paul went on some of his missionary journeys.

Dalmatia: Dalmatia was the region that is now the country of Albania and included certain areas to the northwest of Albania. However, in your translation, it is sufficient to identify Dalmatia as a Roman province.

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All Scripture quotations in this publication, unless otherwise indicated, are from The Holy Bible, Berean Standard Bible. BSB is produced in cooperation with Bible Hub, Discovery Bible, OpenBible.com, and the Berean Bible Translation Committee.