Crescens
Crescens
Info
- #coworker
- Home:: Unknown
- Other Locales:: Galatia (or Gaul)
- References:: 2 Timothy 4#4:10
Notes
- Departed from Paul to Galatia during Paul's final imprisonment
- Unlike Demas, not described negatively - likely sent on mission
Summary
Crescens is mentioned once in 2 Timothy 4#4:10, in the same verse as Demas's desertion: "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia."
The verse's structure is significant. Paul describes Demas's departure with condemnation ("in love with this present world"), but Crescens's departure carries no censure. Crescens simply "has gone to Galatia" using the same neutral language used for Titus going to Dalmatia, which was a mission assignment. Crescens left Rome on Paul's behalf, sent to minister in Galatia (central Asia Minor) while Paul remained imprisoned.
Some manuscripts read "Gaul" (Gallian) instead of "Galatia" (Galatian). This has led to a tradition that Crescens served as an equipping servant to what is now France. The Western church tradition, particularly in Gaul, claimed Crescens as an early equipping servant to their region. The textual evidence favors "Galatia," though both readings are ancient.
His Latin name, Crescens ("growing"), was common in the Roman world. Nothing else is known about him from the New Testament, but his willingness to accept a mission assignment while Paul was in his final imprisonment, when others were departing, places him among the faithful.