Phygelos appears only in Paul's second letter to Timothy as one of two individuals who turned away from the apostle during his ministry in Asia. The name means something like 'fugitive' or 'one who flees' in Greek, which adds a poignant irony to this mention. Paul names him specifically alongside Hermogenes as representative of a broader desertion, showing that even trusted associates could abandon the faith or their commitment to Paul's mission in difficult times.