John Calvin 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)

You know that all who are in Asia have forsaken me. These apostasies which he mentions might have shaken the hearts of many and, at the same time, given rise to many suspicions, as we commonly look at everything in the worst light. Paul meets scandals of this kind with courage and heroism, so that all good people may learn to abhor the treachery of those who had thus deserted the servant of Christ, when he alone, at the risk of his life, was upholding the common cause; and so that they may not give way on that account, when they learn that Paul is not left without divine assistance.

Of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. He names two of them, who were probably more celebrated than the rest, so that he may shut the door against their slanders. For it is customary for revolters and deserters from the Christian warfare, in order to excuse their own baseness, to forge as many accusations as they can against the good and faithful ministers of the gospel. Phygellus and Hermogenes, knowing that their cowardice was justly considered infamous by believers and that they were even condemned as guilty of base treachery, would not have hesitated to load Paul with false accusations and impudently to attack his innocence. Paul, therefore, in order to take away all credit from their lies, brands them with the mark which they deserve.

Thus, in the present day, there are also many who—because they are not admitted into the ministry here, or are stripped of their honor on account of their wickedness, or because we do not choose to support them while they do nothing, or because they have committed theft or fornication—are compelled to flee. They then immediately wander through France and other countries. By hurling all the accusations they can against us, they derive from these very charges a testament to their own innocence. And some brothers are so foolish as to accuse us of cruelty if any of us depicts such persons in their true colors. But it is to be wished that all of them had their foreheads marked with a hot iron, so that they might be recognized at first sight.