Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Timothy 1:15

"This thou knowest, that all that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes." — 2 Timothy 1:15 (ASV)

“Asia” in the NT means the Roman province of Asia, at the west end of Asia Minor. It was made into a province by the Romans about 133 B. C., and Ephesus finally became its capital. On his third missionary journey Paul had spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 20:31), longer than anywhere else. While he was there, the preaching of the Gospel reached every part of the province (Acts 19:10).

There is deep pathos, then, in this verse: “You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me”—i.e., turned away from me. Paul singles out two men for special mention among the deserters, perhaps because they were well known to Timothy. But of “Phygelus and Hermogenes” we know nothing further. When did the Christians of Asia turn away from Paul? Perhaps it was when he was arrested and taken to Rome for his second and final imprisonment. If so, one can understand the “tears” (v.4) Timothy shed at that time.