Something far better for himself is weighed in the scales over against something more necessary for the saints -

can we imagine the apostle making any other choice, than that in spite of his own preference he would continue in

the witness a little longer?

We have not yet completed our examination of disputed meanings in this passage. We must now deal with the

word translated `depart'. This is the verb analuo. Dr. Bullinger in his Lexicon says of this word `to loosen again, set

free; then, to loosen, dissolve or resolve, as matter into its elements (hence English analysis); then to unfasten as the

fastening of a ship, and thus prepare for departure (and with the force of ana "back") to return (Luke 12:36)'.

The idea of `departing' is expressed in the New Testament by no less than twenty-three different Greek words,

which cover all phases of `departing' as, going from one place to another, travelling, withdrawing, separating one's

self, emigrating, and the like.

The Greek word analuo is not included in this set of translations, it occurs but twice as follows :

`When he will return from the wedding' (Luke 12:36).

`Having a desire to depart' (Phil. 1:23).

Let us take the idea of `return' as set forth in Luke 12. Rotherham has the following rendering in his Emphasized

New Testament `once he may break up out of the marriage feast'. J. N. Darby is, as usual, cautious; he translates

`whenever He may leave the wedding'. It is evident therefore that the idea of `returning' is not necessarily proved by

Luke 12:36.

The root word of analuo `to depart' is luo `to loose' and in the use of the simple verb, or of its many

combinations and derivatives, the primary idea of `loosening' is never absent. This we can demonstrate from the use

of the word in the New Testament.

Luo. To unloose a shoe latchet, to loose a colt, to dissolve as the elements (Luke 3:16; 19:30; 2 Pet. 3:11).

Lutron `a ransom'. Something that sets free (Matt. 20:28).

Lutroo `redeem'. Lutrosis `redemption' (Tit. 2:14; Heb. 9:12).

In combination we have kataluo `to destroy', `to dissolve' (Matt. 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:1).

Apoluo `to release', `to send away', `to set at liberty' (Matt. 27:15; 14:23; Acts 26:32).

Analuo is no exception to the rule, and `return' would be a good translation if there was no ambiguity about the

word; but there are two ideas that are expressed in the word `return' :

Of the return of the body to dust as it was,

The return of a person from a distant place.

These are not synonymous.

It would be perfectly congruous to speak of the `dissolution' of the body, but how can any one tolerate the idea of

the `dissolution' of the Lord in glory. The rendering of analuo `to return' has only been possible because of its

double meaning, and double meanings are the translator's pitfall. Now it is perfectly certain that when Paul used the

word analusis in 2 Timothy 4:6 he meant his own `departure', and in this passage can refer to nothing else than his

own death. `The time of my departure is at hand'. Even if we translated these words `the time for my return', the

meaning would still be unaltered. Dissolution, or analysis as the word becomes in English, is the only possible

meaning of the apostle in 2 Timothy 4:6. In Philippians 1:23 Paul uses the verb analuo, in 2 Timothy 4:6 he uses

the noun analusis. They are related together as any other verb and noun are, as `sing' the verb is related to `song' the

noun. When Paul used the verb athleo in 2 Timothy 2:5 `to strive' and the noun athlesis in Hebrews 10:32 `a fight',

there is no disharmony in the renderings and so it must be in every case. There is, however, a further reason to treat

the two passages Philippians 1:23 and 2 Timothy 4:6 as common subjects, the two epistles are tied together by the

repetition of another idea. In 2 Timothy 4:6, Paul also said `I am now ready to be offered' spendomai, a word that is

associated with the `pouring out' of the drink offering (Exod. 30:9). This same word is employed in Philippians

2:17, `If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith'. In Philippians the apostle `desired' to depart, in