Phygelus is a biblical figure mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the Second Epistle to Timothy. He is noted for his association with the Apostle Paul during Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Phygelus is referenced in a context that highlights a significant moment of desertion faced by Paul.

Biblical Reference:

Phygelus is mentioned in 2 Timothy 1:15, where Paul writes: "You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes."

Context and Significance:

The mention of Phygelus occurs in a personal letter from Paul to Timothy, his young protégé and fellow worker in the Gospel. This epistle is considered one of the pastoral letters, written during Paul's second imprisonment in Rome, likely around A.D. 66-67. The letter is filled with personal reflections, exhortations, and instructions for Timothy, who was leading the church in Ephesus at the time.

In 2 Timothy 1:15, Paul expresses a poignant moment of abandonment, noting that "everyone in the province of Asia" had deserted him. This statement underscores the challenges and isolation Paul faced during his ministry, particularly during his imprisonments. Phygelus, along with Hermogenes, is specifically named as part of this group who turned away from Paul.

Theological Implications:

The desertion by Phygelus and others serves as a reminder of the trials and tribulations faced by early Christian leaders. It highlights the reality of human frailty and the pressures that can lead individuals to abandon their commitments, especially in the face of persecution or hardship. This passage also serves as a contrast to the faithfulness and loyalty that Paul encourages Timothy to embody.

Paul's mention of Phygelus and Hermogenes without further detail suggests that their desertion was well-known to Timothy and perhaps to the early Christian community. It serves as a cautionary tale within the epistle, emphasizing the need for steadfastness and courage in the Christian walk.

Historical and Cultural Context:

The province of Asia, referred to in this passage, was a Roman province in what is now western Turkey. It was a region where Paul had previously established churches and had significant ministry, including the city of Ephesus. The desertion by those in Asia, including Phygelus, may reflect the intense persecution and societal pressures faced by Christians in this region during the first century.

Lessons for Today:

The account of Phygelus serves as a sobering reminder of the cost of discipleship and the importance of perseverance in the faith. It challenges believers to remain faithful to their commitments, even when faced with adversity or the temptation to conform to societal pressures. The mention of Phygelus also encourages the Christian community to support and uphold one another, especially those in leadership, during times of trial and difficulty.Phygelus

Used in the Revised Version in (2 Timothy 1:15) for PHYGELLUS.

PHYGELUS; PHYGELLUS

fi-je'-lus, fi-jel'-us (Phugellos; Tischendorf and Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, with others, read Phugelos, Phygellus or Phygelus (2 Timothy 1:15); the King James Version): One of the Christians who deserted Paul at the time of his 2nd imprisonment at Rome. Paul mentions him, along with Hermogenes, as being among those "that are in Asia," who turned away from him then. What is meant may be that Phygelus and Hermogenes, along with other native Christians from proconsular Asia, were in Rome when he was brought before the emperor's tribunal the second time, and that they had not merely taken no measures to stand by and support him, but that they had deserted him.

The meaning, however, may be that the turning away of Phygelus and Hermogenes from Paul took place, not in Rome, but in Asia itself.

The times during and immediately following the Neronic persecution were more dreadful than can easily be conceived, and the temptation was strong to forsake the Christian name, and to do so in a wholesale fashion. A great community like the Christian church in Ephesus or in Rome felt the terrible pressure of those times, when for a mere word-a word, however, denying the Lord who bought them-men were at once set free from persecution, from the loss of property or of home, and from death. 1 Peter records how the aftermath of the Neronic persecution had extended far indeed from Rome, where it had originated. Peter asks the Christians not to give way under "the fiery trial" which is trying them (1 Peter 4:12), and those whom he thus addresses were the members of the church throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia (1 Peter 1:1). The epistles to the seven churches in Asia in the Apocalypse also show how sorely persecution had raged throughout that province.

See PERSECUTION.

But in addition to the temptation to deny Christ's name and to go back to heathenism or to Judaism, there was also another which pressed upon some of the churches, the temptation to repudiate the authority of Paul. Many passages in the New Testament show how the name of Paul was sometimes very lightly esteemed, and how his authority was repudiated, e.g. by persons in Corinth, and in the churches of Galatia.

What is said here is, that among the Christians of proconsular Asia, i.e. of Ephesus and the churches in the valley of the Cayster, there was a widespread defection from that loyalty to Paul which was to be expected from those who owed to him all that they possessed of the knowledge of Christ's salvation. "All that are in Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes." On the whole, all the necessary conditions of these words are satisfied by a reference to Rome and to Paul's environment there, and perhaps this is the more probable meaning.

See HERMOGENES.

John Rutherfurd

5436. Phugelos -- Phygelus, one who deserted Paul
... Phygelus, one who deserted Paul. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine Transliteration:
Phugelos Phonetic Spelling: (foog'-el-los) Short Definition: Phygelus ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5436.htm - 6kPhygelus (1 Occurrence)
...PHYGELUS; PHYGELLUS. ... The meaning, however, may be that the turning away of Phygelus
and Hermogenes from Paul took place, not in Rome, but in Asia itself. ...
/p/phygelus.htm - 9k

Phygellus (1 Occurrence)
...PHYGELUS; PHYGELLUS. ... The meaning, however, may be that the turning away of Phygelus
and Hermogenes from Paul took place, not in Rome, but in Asia itself. ...
/p/phygellus.htm - 10k

Including (90 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away
from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. (See NIV). ...
/i/including.htm - 33k

Deserted (54 Occurrences)
... (WEY NAS NIV). 2 Timothy 1:15 Of this you are aware, that all the Christians in
Roman Asia have deserted me: and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. (WEY NIV). ...
/d/deserted.htm - 22k

Phy'gelus (1 Occurrence)
Phy'gelus. Phygelus, Phy'gelus. Phylacteries . Multi-Version Concordance
Phy'gelus (1 Occurrence). ... Phygelus, Phy'gelus. Phylacteries . Reference Bible.
/p/phy'gelus.htm - 6k

Christians (13 Occurrences)
... (WEY). 2 Timothy 1:15 Of this you are aware, that all the Christians in Roman Asia
have deserted me: and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. (WEY). ...
/c/christians.htm - 10k

Hermogenes (1 Occurrence)
... Hermogenes (1 Occurrence). 2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all who are in
Asia turned away from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. ...
/h/hermogenes.htm - 10k

Aware (44 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). 2 Timothy 1:15 Of this you are aware, that all the Christians in Roman
Asia have deserted me: and among them Phygelus and Hermogenes. (WEY NAS RSV). ...
/a/aware.htm - 19k

Fact (98 Occurrences)
... WEY). 2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away
from me; of whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes. (See NAS). ...
/f/fact.htm - 36k

Turn (963 Occurrences)
... 2 Timothy 1:15 This you know, that all who are in Asia turned away from me; of whom
are Phygelus and Hermogenes. (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). ...
/t/turn.htm - 41k

Who was Onesiphorus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus