“You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes” (2 Timothy 1:15 ESV).
Having already counseled Timothy to “Hold fast and follow the pattern of wholesome and sound teaching which you have heard from me…” (2 Timothy 1:13 AMPC), this passage offers two examples of individuals who chose a different path.
Paul the Apostle made note of two persons -Phygelus and Hermogenes- who did something that clearly disappointed him: they turned away from him in his time of need. Unfortunately, we know nothing further about these men other than the fact that they deserted Paul during a period when he needed their support.
Although Phygelus and Hermogenes are virtually unknown to us, it’s probably fair to say that they must have held prominent positions if Paul and Timothy knew them by name. This is especially intriguing if we stop to consider a warning that Paul had earlier given the church at Ephesus where Timothy served…
“I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth in order to draw a following. Watch out!” (Acts 20:29-31a NLT).
With these things in mind, let’s consider the possibility that Phygelus and Hermogenes may have been two notable church leaders who held questionable doctrines. Since bad doctrine inevitably leads to poor decisions, it would not be surprising to learn that these men expressed their mistaken beliefs in deciding to abandon Paul. If that was the case, then Paul’s imprisonment offered a prime opportunity for each of these men to amass a greater following.
So just as Paul had earlier counseled the Corinthian church to “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), 2 Timothy 1:15 reminds us that we can also look to others for examples of what not to do. Much like Phygelus and Hermogenes, it’s important to remember that everyone teaches and influences others through the examples of their lives. Some (like Paul the Apostle) teach us what to do while others (like Phygelus and Hermogenes) teach us what not to do.
While it’s possible to learn a good lesson from a bad example, it’s certainly better to watch and learn from a positive influence. This passage should thus prompt us to ask two questions: which of these examples are we following and what kind of example are we setting for others?