{
  "id": "dict_001381",
  "term": "Demetrius",
  "slug": "demetrius",
  "letter": "D",
  "entry_type": "biblical_name",
  "entry_family": "theological_term",
  "depth_profile": "standard",
  "short_definition": "A New Testament personal name borne by at least two men: the Ephesian silversmith who opposed Paul and a believer commended by John.",
  "simple_one_line": "Demetrius is a New Testament name used for both an opponent of Paul in Ephesus and a faithful believer named in 3 John.",
  "tooltip_text": "New Testament name borne by the Ephesian silversmith who stirred opposition to Paul and by a believer warmly commended in 3 John.",
  "aliases": [
    "Demetrius (Silversmith)"
  ],
  "scripture_references": [],
  "original_language_terms": [],
  "related_entries": [
    "Artemis",
    "Ephesus",
    "Paul",
    "3 John",
    "idolatry"
  ],
  "see_also": [
    "Demetrius the silversmith",
    "3 John 12",
    "Acts 19"
  ],
  "lede_intro": "Demetrius is a New Testament personal name borne by at least two different men. One was an Ephesian silversmith who led opposition to Paul’s ministry; the other is commended by John for his good testimony.",
  "at_a_glance_definition": "A biblical name with more than one New Testament referent.",
  "at_a_glance_key_points": [
    "Acts 19 identifies Demetrius the silversmith as a key opponent of Paul in Ephesus.",
    "3 John 12 commends a different Demetrius as a man with a good reputation.",
    "The entry is best treated as a biblical name/disambiguation rather than a theological concept."
  ],
  "description_academic_short": "Demetrius is a New Testament personal name applied to at least two men. In Acts 19, Demetrius the silversmith in Ephesus opposed Paul because the gospel threatened the idol-related trade tied to Artemis. In 3 John 12, another Demetrius is commended as a faithful man with a good reputation.",
  "description_academic_full": "Demetrius is a New Testament personal name, not a theological doctrine or concept. In Acts 19:23–41, Demetrius is the Ephesian silversmith who helped incite opposition to Paul because many were turning from idols and the trade connected with the shrine of Artemis was being affected. In 3 John 12, a different Demetrius is warmly commended by John and appears to have a good testimony among believers. Because the same name is used for more than one individual, this entry functions as a biblical-name disambiguation rather than a single-person biography.",
  "background_biblical_context": "Acts places Demetrius the silversmith within the conflict between the gospel and idolatry in Ephesus. 3 John presents Demetrius in a very different setting, as a believer whose life and reputation were exemplary.",
  "background_historical_context": "Ephesus was a major center of commerce and devotion to Artemis, so any movement away from idols could have economic as well as religious consequences. The silversmith Demetrius therefore represents both pagan resistance to the gospel and the social impact of Paul’s ministry.",
  "background_jewish_ancient_context": "The New Testament world was shaped by Greek and Roman naming practices, and the same personal name could belong to different individuals in different local settings. Demetrius is a common Greek name and should be read in context rather than assumed to refer to one person across all passages.",
  "key_texts_primary": [
    "Acts 19:23–41",
    "3 John 12"
  ],
  "key_texts_secondary": [
    "Acts 19:24–27",
    "3 John 11–12"
  ],
  "original_language_note": "From Greek Dēmētrios, a personal name used in the New Testament for more than one man.",
  "theological_significance": "The two Demetriuses illustrate sharply different responses to the gospel: one opposed it for selfish and idolatrous reasons, while the other appears to have lived in a way worthy of commendation. The entry also reminds readers that names in Scripture must be interpreted by context.",
  "philosophical_explanation": "This is a simple identification entry rather than an abstract concept. Its value lies in distinguishing persons who share a name and avoiding confusion between distinct historical referents.",
  "interpretive_cautions": "Do not assume that every biblical mention of Demetrius refers to the same man. The name should be read contextually, with Acts 19 and 3 John 12 treated as separate references.",
  "major_views_note": "Most interpreters treat the Acts figure and the 3 John figure as distinct individuals. The entry should not collapse them into one biography.",
  "doctrinal_boundaries": "This entry has no special doctrinal content beyond the historical reality of the people named and the contrasting witness they provide.",
  "practical_significance": "Believers can learn both the danger of hostile resistance to the gospel and the importance of a good Christian reputation.",
  "meta_description": "Demetrius in the New Testament: the Ephesian silversmith who opposed Paul and the believer commended by John.",
  "public_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/demetrius/",
  "json_url": "/companion-bible-dictionary/data/dictionary/demetrius.json",
  "final_disposition": "PUBLISH_CANONICAL"
}