For I am already being poured out
The phrase "being poured out" is translated from the Greek word "σπένδομαι" (spendomai), which refers to the act of pouring out a drink offering. In the ancient world, particularly in Jewish and Greco-Roman traditions, a drink offering was a ritual act of worship where wine or other liquids were poured out as a sacrifice to God or gods. Paul uses this metaphor to describe his life as an offering to God, indicating his willingness to give everything, even his life, in service to Christ. This reflects a deep sense of devotion and commitment, encouraging believers to view their lives as offerings to God, living sacrificially for His glory.

like a drink offering
The drink offering, or "libation," was a common practice in both Jewish and pagan rituals. In the Jewish context, it was part of the sacrificial system described in the Old Testament (e.g., Numbers 15:5-10). The drink offering symbolized the complete dedication of the worshiper to God. Paul’s use of this imagery suggests that his life and impending death are acts of worship, fully surrendered to God's will. This serves as a powerful reminder for Christians to live lives of complete dedication, viewing every action as an act of worship.

and the time of my departure
The word "departure" comes from the Greek "ἀναλύσεως" (analuseos), which can mean "release" or "loosing." It was often used to describe a ship being loosed from its moorings or an army breaking camp. Paul sees his impending death not as an end, but as a transition or release into a new phase of existence with Christ. This perspective offers hope and assurance to believers, emphasizing that death is not to be feared but is a passage to eternal life with God.

is at hand
The phrase "is at hand" indicates imminence and certainty. Paul is aware that his death is near, yet he faces it with confidence and peace. This reflects his deep faith and trust in God's sovereignty and timing. For Christians, this serves as an encouragement to live with an eternal perspective, understanding that our times are in God's hands and that we should be prepared to meet Him at any moment.

(6) For I am now ready to be offered.--What, in the Philippian Epistle (Philippians 2:17), was alluded to as a contingency likely enough to happen here is spoken of as something which was then absolutely taking place. In his first imprisonment at Rome St. Paul looked on to a martyr's death as probable. In his second captivity at Rome he writes of the martyrdom as already beginning. The more accurate, as well as the more forcible, translation would be, For I am already being offered. The Greek word rendered "I am being offered," points to the drink offering of wine which, among the Jews, accompanied the sacrifice. Among the heathen this wine was commonly poured upon the burning victims--the allusion here is to St. Paul's bloody death. So convinced was he that the dread moment for him was at hand, that as he thus speaks he feels as though it was even then taking place, and sees--in his present suffering, in his harsh treatment--the beginning of that martyrdom in which his life-blood would be poured out. But he would not allow Timothy or the many Christians who revered and loved him to be dismayed by his sufferings or shocked at his painful death. He would show them, by his calm, triumphant language, that to him death was no terror, but only the appointed passage to glory. So he speaks of his life-blood being shed, under the well-known peaceful image of the wine poured out over the sacrifice, the drink offering, the sweet savour unto the Lord. (See Numbers 15:1-10; compare John 12:24, where the Master of St. Paul, too, speaks of His approaching death of agony and shame also under a quiet, homely image.)

And the time of my departure is at hand.--"My departure:" that is. "from life," from this world to another. The moment of my death, so long looked for, is now close at hand, is all but here. The Greek word rendered "departure," among other meanings, signifies the raising of the ship's anchor and the loosing of the cables by which the vessel was hindered from proceeding on her destined voyage.

Verse 6. - Already being offered for now ready to be offered, A.V.; come for at hand. A.V. I am already being offered. The ἐγώ is emphatic, in contrast with the σύ of ver. 5: "Thou, who hast still life before thee, suffer hardship, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. I can do so no longer, for my martyrdom has already commenced, and my end is close at hand. Thou must take my place in the great conflict." Am... being offered (σπένδομαι); am being poured out, as the drink offering, or libation, is poured out. St. Paul uses the same figure in Philippians 2:17, where he couples it with the sacrifice and service (or offering up) of the faith of the Philippians by himself as the priest, and looks upon the pouring out of his own life as the completion of that sacrifice (see Ellicott on Philippians). "The libation always formed the conclusion of the sacrifice, and so the apostle's martyrdom closed his apostolic service" (Huther), which had been a continual sacrifice, in which he had been the ministering priest (Romans 15:16). So that the use of σπένδομαι here exactly agrees with that in Philippians 2:17. "My sacrificial work," St. Paul says," being now finished and ended, I am performing the last solemn act, the pouring out of my own life in martyrdom, to which I shall pass out of the prison where I now am." The time of my departure (τῆς ἐμῆς ἀναλύσεως). The word is found nowhere else in the New Testament, but St. Paul uses the verb ἀναλῦσαι, "to depart," in Philippians 1:23, where, the verb being in the active voice, the metaphor clearly is from weighing anchor, as in common use in classical Greek; hence simply "to depart." The classical use of ἀνάλυσις rather favours the sense, either of" release" or of " dissolution." But St. Paul's use of ἀναλύω in Philippians 1:23, and the frequent use of the same verb in the LXX. and by Josephus, in the sense of "to depart," favours the rendering of ἀνάλυσις by "departure," as in the A.V. and R.V. Is come; rather, is at hand (ἐφέστηκε); the same verb as ἐπίστηθι in ver. 2. (On the difference between ἐνέστηκε ("is come") and ἐφέστηκε ("is at hand"), see Alford on 2 Thessalonians 2:2, and comp. Acts 22:20.)

Parallel Commentaries ...


For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

I {am}
Ἐγὼ (Egō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

already
ἤδη (ēdē)
Adverb
Strong's 2235: Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.

being poured out like a drink offering,
σπένδομαι (spendomai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4689: To pour out as a libation. Apparently a primary verb; to pour out as a libation, i.e. to devote.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

the
ὁ (ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

time
καιρὸς (kairos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2540: Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.

of
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

departure
ἀναλύσεώς (analyseōs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 359: From analuo; departure.

is at hand.
ἐφέστηκεν (ephestēken)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2186: To stand by, be urgent, befall one (as of evil), be at hand, impend. From epi and histemi; to stand upon, i.e. Be present.


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NT Letters: 2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being offered (2 Tim. 2Ti iiTi ii Tim)