The name Artemas (Greek: Artemas) is a shorter form of the name Artemidorus, meaning “gift of Artemis” or “devoted to Artemis.” Ironically, despite this pagan origin, the Artemas recorded in the New Testament was a faithful Christian minister and companion of the Apostle Paul.
Like several other figures mentioned in Paul’s final epistles, Artemas is noted only once, but his mention reveals his importance in the organizational and logistical work of the early Church.
The Apostolic Messenger
Artemas is mentioned in the Epistle to Titus, which Paul wrote to his trusted co-worker who was overseeing the churches on the island of Crete. Paul was planning to send a replacement to Crete so that Titus could join him in Nicopolis for the winter.
Artemas was one of the two men Paul considered for this critical mission of replacing Titus. Titus 3:12 reads:
“When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter.” (KJV, emphasis added).
The Significance of the Mission
The purpose of the messenger was twofold:
- Relieving Titus: The primary role of the messenger (either Artemas or Tychicus) was to take over the crucial and often challenging work Titus was doing in Crete—appointing elders in every city and “setting in order the things that are wanting” (Titus 1:5, KJV). This indicates that Artemas was a minister of significant trust and competence, capable of overseeing a network of fledgling churches.
- Facilitating Travel: The messenger was necessary to free Titus from his duties so that he could join Paul in Nicopolis for the winter. Paul needed Titus to assist him, and the messenger acted as the vital logistical link in the overall apostolic ministry.
Tychicus vs. Artemas
While the text does not explicitly state whether Paul ultimately sent Artemas or Tychicus, Tychicus is frequently mentioned elsewhere as Paul’s chosen messenger for similar missions (e.g., Ephesians 6:21, Colossians 4:7). The fact that Artemas was considered alongside Tychicus suggests that he was a man of similar standing—a faithful minister whom Paul could rely on completely.
The Value of Unsung Labourers
The brief mention of Artemas, like many others in the final greetings of Paul’s letters, serves as a powerful reminder of the team-based nature of the apostolic ministry. While Paul, Peter, and John are the primary figures, the spread of the Gospel depended on the dedicated, often unsung, labour of men and women like Artemas.
He was a man willing to be deployed wherever Paul deemed necessary, demonstrating a selfless readiness to serve the Lord’s mission, regardless of whether his name became prominent in the historical record.
In conclusion, Artemas is a minister of the early Church who was held in high enough regard by the Apostle Paul to be entrusted with the vital task of temporarily overseeing the churches on the island of Crete, highlighting his position as a trustworthy and capable fellow-labourer in the Gospel.