What does 2 Timothy 1:15 mean?

Unfortunately, not all Christians remain faithful to the gospel, or to each other. In contrast to both Paul's and Timothy's faithfulness, Paul refers to certain believers in Asia Minor, which is modern-day Turkey. Much of Paul's missionary activity had taken place here, including the city of Ephesus, which is where Timothy was when Paul wrote this letter. During Nero's persecution of Christians following the fires of Rome in AD 64, many Christians sought to distance themselves from Paul after his arrest. This is a very normal, very human reaction: hoping to avoid a similar fate.

Paul specifically mentions two men who seem to have abandoned him. These are Phygelus and Hermogenes. It is uncertain whether these men left Paul in Rome or somewhere else, though Rome seems most likely. This suggestion is also strengthened by Paul's words later in this letter. In 2 Timothy 4:9–10, Paul mentions those who had left him in Rome. They included at least one deserter, as well as others Paul had sent to do ministry. At the time Paul wrote 2 Timothy, only Luke—the author of the books of Luke and Acts—was still with him (2 Timothy 4:11). Luke may have even been the man who wrote down Paul's letter for him, though this is uncertain.