2 Timothy 4:6 Meaning and Explanation
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul senses his death is near, speaking of himself as a drink offering poured out and his departure at hand.
What Does 2 Timothy 4:6 Mean?
Paul turns to his own approaching end. He speaks of himself as already being poured out like a drink offering, and he names the time of his departure as near. He knows his death is close.
The language is deeply moving. Paul does not view his coming death as defeat but as an offering, his life poured out in worship to God. The word for departure evokes a ship loosing its moorings or a tent being struck, the gentle imagery of moving on rather than being destroyed. For the reader facing mortality, whether their own or a loved one's, Paul models a holy serenity. Death, for the one in Christ, is not annihilation but departure, a setting sail toward the Lord. A life given to God can be poured out at the end with peace, even gratitude, as a final act of devotion.
2 Timothy 4:6 in the Original Language
analusis (ἀνάλυσις), 'departure' -- a loosing or releasing, like a ship untied from its mooring or a tent struck for the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Timothy 4:6
What does 2 Timothy 4:6 mean?
Paul senses his death is near, speaking of himself as a drink offering poured out and his departure at hand.