What does 2 Timothy 4:6 mean?

In this verse, Paul turns from commands for Timothy back to reflecting upon his own life. The "drink offering" refers to a cup of wine a Jewish priest poured out beside the altar following the offering of a ram, lamb, or bull in the temple (Numbers 15:1–10; 28:4–7). Just as the drink offering symbolized the end of the offering, Paul's life was about to come to an end. He is writing these words under Roman imprisonment and expects to be executed before too long. Paul has already made one courtroom appearance during this imprisonment (2 Timothy 4:16), but does not expect to be given another opportunity.

Paul uses the metaphor of dissolving or departing, from the Greek word analys󠅍eōs, referring to a ship which has untied itself from the dock and is about to set sail. This is the same word Paul uses in Philippians 1:23, saying his desire was to die or "depart and be with Christ, for that is far better." The same concept of "departure," using other Greek terms, was often used as a metaphor for death, such as those of Jesus (Luke 9:31) and Peter (2 Peter 1:15).