A silversmith at Ephesus, whose chief occupation was to make "silver shrines for Diana" (q.v.), Acts 19:24 ,i.e., models either of the temple of Diana or of the statue of the goddess. This trade brought to him and his fellow-craftsmen "no small gain," for these shrines found a ready sale among the countless thousands who came to this temple from all parts of Asia Minor. This traffic was greatly endangered by the progress of the gospel, and hence Demetrius excited the tradesmen employed in the manufacture of these shrines, and caused so great a tumult that "the whole city was filled with confusion." A Christian who is spoken of as having "a good report of all men, and of the truth itself" (3 John 1:12 ).

A friend of Saint John, and possibly the bearer of his third epistle.

A pagan silversmith who made shrines for Diana at Ephesus, and opposed Saint Paul (Acts 19).

DEMETRIUS . 1. Soter , the son of Seleucus Philopator . In his boyhood he was sent (b.c. 175) to Rome as a hostage, but made his escape after the death of his uncie, Antiochus Epiphanes. Landing at Tripolis, he was joined by large bodies of the people, and even by the bodyguard of his cousin, Antiochus Eupator. Eupator was soon defeated and put to death, and in b.c. 162, Demetrius was proclaimed king ( 1Ma 7:1-4 , 2Ma 14:1-2 ; Jos. ^[1] Ant . XII. x. 1). After seven years, Alexander Balas (wh. see) was set up as a claimant to the crown of Syria (b.c. 153); and he and Demetrius competed for the support of Jonathan ( 1Ma 10:1-21 ; Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. ii. 1 3). Balas prevailed in spite of the attempts of his rival to outbid him ( 1Ma 10:25-45 ). In b.c. 150 a decisive engagement took place, in which Demetrius was defeated and slain ( 1Ma 10:48-50 ; Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. ii. 4). 2. Nikator , sent by his father, D. Soter , for safety to Chidus after the success of Balas seemed probable. After several years of exile he landed (b.c. 147) with an army of Cretan mercenaries on the Cilician coast, and finally inflicted a fatal defeat upon Balas (b.c. 145) on the banks of the Œnoparas, from which event Demetrius derived his surname ( 1Ma 11:14-19 ; Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. iv. 8). He bought off the opposition of Jonathan by the addition of three Samaritan provinces to Judæa, and the exemption from tribute of the country thus enlarged ( 1Ma 11:20-37 ; Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. iv. 9). After varying fortunes in the war with Tryphon (wh. see), Demetrius invaded the dominions of the king of Parthia, by whom, in b.c. 138, he was taken prisoner ( 1Ma 14:1-3 ). Upon regaining his liberty at the end of ten years, he undertook a war against Ptolemy Physkon of Egypt. Having been defeated by Zabinas at Damascus, he fled to Ptolemais, and thence to Tyre, where in b.c. 125 he was murdered (Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. ix. 3), possibly at the instigation of his wife Cleopatra (App. Syr . 68; Liv. Epit . lx.). 3. Eukairos , grandson of D. Nikator . On the death of his father he established himself in Cœle-Syria, with Damascus as his capital (Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. xiii. 4). When civil war broke out between Alexander Jannæus and his Pharisee subjects, the latter invited the assistance of Demetrius (Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. xiii. 5, BJ I. iv. 4), who defeated Jannæus in a pitched battle near Shecbem (Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. xiv. 1, BJ I. iv. 5). After a chequered career, Demetrius fell into the hands of the Parthians, by whom he was detained in captivity until his death (Jos. ^[1] Ant . XIII. xiv. 3). 4, 5. Two persons of the name are mentioned in NT the ringleader in the riot at Ephesus ( Acts 19:24 ), and a disciple commended by St. John ( 3 John 1:12 ). Probably the same name occurs in a contracted form as Demas .

King of the Seleucidæ, who made war against Judas Machabeus and defeated him in a third campaign, 161 B.C. Demetrius was later defeated and slain by the Syrian pretender, Alexander, and his Jewish allies. Father of Demetrius Nikator.

Missionary, born The Hague, 1770; died Loretto, Pennsylvania, 1840. He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, but became a Catholic, c.1787,came to Baltimore, 1792, and entered Saint Mary's Seminary and was ordained, 1795. In 1799 he went to McGuire's Settlement in the Alleghenies, erecting a small log church where Loretto, named by him, now stands; there he remained 41 years. Receiving no salary, he spent what he received of his inheritance developing the colony spiritually and industrially. He was one of the first in the United States to defend the Church by writing. Made Vicar-General of Western Pennsylvania, 1827, he refused to allow the proposal of his name for the sees of Cincinnati and Detroit. On the centenary of the Loretto mission, a bronze statue, donated by Charles M. Schwab, was erected over the rough-hewn monument marking his grave.

Missionary, born The Hague, 1770; died Loretto, Pennsylvania, 1840. He was baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church, but became a Catholic, c.1787,came to Baltimore, 1792, and entered Saint Mary's Seminary and was ordained, 1795. In 1799 he went to McGuire's Settlement in the Alleghenies, erecting a small log church where Loretto, named by him, now stands; there he remained 41 years. Receiving no salary, he spent what he received of his inheritance developing the colony spiritually and industrially. He was one of the first in the United States to defend the Church by writing. Made Vicar-General of Western Pennsylvania, 1827, he refused to allow the proposal of his name for the sees of Cincinnati and Detroit. On the centenary of the Loretto mission, a bronze statue, donated by Charles M. Schwab, was erected over the rough-hewn monument marking his grave.

Son of Demetrius Soter, who regained the throne about 146 B.C., but was forced by Jonathan Machabeus to release the Jews from taxation and to increase their territory. He was later captured by the Parthians; on his release, after attacking Egypt he was defeated by Alexander Zabinas, a pretender, and assassinated at Tyre, 128 B.C.

(dih mee' trih uhss) Personal name meaning, “belonging to Demeter, the Greek goddess of crops.” 1. A silversmith in Ephesus. He incited a riot directed against Paul because he feared that the apostle's preaching would threaten the sale of silver shrines of Diana, the patron goddess of Ephesus (Acts 19:24-41 ). Demetrius may have been a guild master in charge of producing small silver copies of Diana's temple with a figure of the goddess inside. 2. Apparently a convert from the worship of Demeter, the god worshiped in the mystery religion at Eleusis near Athens. John commended him, saying, he “hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself” (3 John 1:12 ). He may have carried 3John from John to its original readers.

Son of Demetrius Soter, who regained the throne about 146 B.C., but was forced by Jonathan Machabeus to release the Jews from taxation and to increase their territory. He was later captured by the Parthians; on his release, after attacking Egypt he was defeated by Alexander Zabinas, a pretender, and assassinated at Tyre, 128 B.C.

1. A maker of silver portable models of the great temple and statue of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus (Acts 19:24). They were kept as amulets against danger. Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen, in fear for their gains, raised a tumult against Paul as saying "they be no gods which are made with hands." Like many men he made regard for religion his plea, while really having an eye to self; "not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought, but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth." A religious party cry is sure to rouse many who care little at heart about piety. It shows how soon Christianity, notwithstanding its seeming weakness, was felt as a mighty power threatening pagandom with all its then greatness. 2. A Christian "having good report of all men, and of the truth itself," and of John (3 John 1:12). The gospel standard of truth witnessed his conformity to it in love and good works; a transparently real Christian.

There are two, if not three, persons of this name mentioned in the NT-a fact which is not surprising, considering how very common the name was in the Greek world. 1. Demetrius, the silversmith of Ephesus (Acts 19). A business man, profoundly interested in the success of his business, Demetrius was a manufacturer of various objects in silver, of which the most profitable were small silver models of the shrine of the Ephesian goddess Artemis (see Diana). These models were purchased by the rich, dedicated to the goddess, and hung up within her temple. The preaching of St. Paul was so powerful that devotion to the goddess became less prevalent, the demand for such offerings was reduced, and Demetrius felt his livelihood in danger. He called a meeting of the gild of his handicraft to decide on a means for coping with the new situation. The meeting ended in a public disturbance. Nothing is known of the later life of Demetrius. 2. Demetrius, an important member of the church referred to in the Second and Third Epistles of St. John. It is impossible to identify the church with certainty, but there can be little doubt that it was in the province of Asia. The presbyter-overseer of the church is absent, and in his absence Gaius and Demetrius act in the truest interest of the members. Demetrius’ good conduct (3 John 1:12) is attested by all. 3. The full name of Demas (Colossians 4:14, 2 Timothy 4:10, Philemon 1:24) may very well have been Demetrius (possibly Demodorus, Demodotus); see Demas. Literature.-See W. M. Ramsay’s lifelike picture of the scene at Ephesus in his St. Paul the Traveller and the Roman Citizen, London, 1895, p. 277ff. The best list of pet-names is found in A. N. Jannaris, An Historical Greek Grammar, do. 1897, § 287. A. Souter.

Belonging to corn

Demetrius (2) succeeded Julianus A.D. 189, as 11th bp. of Alexandria (Eus. H. E. v. 22). He presided over the see for 43 years, and died a.d. 231-232 ( ib. vi. 26). He appears to have been of an energetic and imperious nature. He took an active interest in the Catechetical School, and is said to have sent one of its early chiefs, Pantaenus, on a ^[1] mission "to the Indians" on their own request (Hieron. de Vir. Ill. 36). After Clement had left Alexandria, he placed Origen at its head, c. 203 (Eus. H. E. vi. 5), and strenuously encouraged him to continue his work, when his indiscreet zeal had exposed him to misrepresentation ( ib. vi. 8). Later (a.d. 217), he sent Origen to the Roman governor of Arabia, at the governor's earnest invitation ( ib. vi. 19). Origen fulfilled his mission satisfactorily, but not long afterwards Demetrius's friendship for him was interrupted. ^[2] According to a late, and not very trustworthy, authority, Demetrius is reported to have written letters on the keeping of Easter, maintaining the view adopted at Nicaea (Eutychius, Ann. pp. 363 ff.; Migne, Patrol. vol. cxi.). Other legendary stories of his life are given in the Chronicon Orientale (pp. 72 f. ed 1685), and more briefly by Tillemont ( Mémoires , Origène, art. vii. tom. iii. p. 225, ed. Bruxelles). The statement that Demetrius first changed the singular ecclesiastical arrangement of Egypt, by appointing three bishops in addition to the bp. of Alexandria, who had formerly governed the whole province, is probably correct, though the only direct authority for it is that of Eutychius, patriarch of Alexandria, in the 10th cent. (cf. Lightfoot, Philippians , p. 230). Possibly this change was due to special views on church government, which may have influenced Demetrius in his harsh judgment on the ordination of Origen beyond the limits of his jurisdiction. ^[3]

Demetrius (de-mç'tri-ŭs), belonging to Demeter or Geres. 1. A maker of silver shrines—models of the great temple—of Diana or Artemis at Ephesus. Acts 19:24. 2. A Christian mentioned with' commendation by John. 3 John 1:12.

1. 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 . 2. A convert who was borne witness to by all, and by the truth itself. 3 John 12 .

1. A goldsmith of Ephesus, who made models of the famous temple of Diana at Ephesus, which he sold to foreigners, Acts 19:24-4 . Observing the progress of the gospel, not in Ephesus only, but in the regions around, he assembled his fellow-craftsmen, and represented that, by this new doctrine, not only their trade would suffer, but the worship of the great Diana of Ephesus was in danger of being entirely forsaken. This produced an uproar and riot in the city, which the town clerk with difficulty appeased by firmness and persuasion. 2. A disciple, and probably a minister, of high repute, 3 John 1:12 . He may have been formerly the silversmith of Ephesus; but this can be neither proved nor disproved.

King of the Seleucidæ, who made war against Judas Machabeus and defeated him in a third campaign, 161 B.C. Demetrius was later defeated and slain by the Syrian pretender, Alexander, and his Jewish allies. Father of Demetrius Nikator.