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As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near.
2 Timothy 4:6 · New Living Translation
Parallel translations
  • WEB For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come.
  • KJV For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  • BSB For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  • NKJV For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
  • NASB For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Paul says he is already being poured out as a drink offering, for the time of his departure has come. He faces death with calm acceptance as an offering to God.

Overview

Using sacrificial imagery, Paul describes his impending death as a libation poured out to God. 'Departure' is a gentle term for dying, likely by execution in Rome. This poignant verse shows a faithful servant facing the end of life with peace and surrender to God's will.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 8

  • Phil 1:23But I am in a dilemma between the two, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
  • Phil 2:17Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all.
  • Josh 23:14“Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.
  • 2 Pet 1:14–15knowing that the putting off of my tent comes swiftly, even as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
  • Num 27:12–17Yahweh said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel.
  • Gen 48:21Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
  • Gen 50:24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
  • Deut 31:14Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, your days approach that you must die. Call Joshua, and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may commission him.” Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 2 Timothy videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 2 Timothy 4:6YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 2 TimothyMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Christ Jesus 'abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel' — the risen Lord whose word and kingdom endure to the end.

How 2 Timothy 4:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.