2 Timothy 4:6

Paul believed that he would die very soon. He used two euphemistic expressions to describe his death. First, his life was presently being "poured out" as a sacrifice to God, like the daily drink offerings in Judaism (Numbers 15:1-10; cf. Numbers 28:4-7; Philippians 2:17). Soon there would be nothing left. After the Jewish priest offered the lamb, ram, or bull in this ritual, he poured wine beside the altar. This was the last act in the sacrificial ceremony all of which symbolized the dedication of the believer to God in worship. The pouring out of the wine pictured the gradual ebbing away of Paul’s life that had been a living sacrifice to God since the apostle’s conversion. [Note: Hendriksen, p. 313.]

Second, Paul was getting ready to depart this earth as a traveler leaves one country for another or as a soldier breaks camp. The apostle believed that Nero would not release him from prison but would execute him. Christian tradition confirms that Paul died as a martyr in Rome. [Note: See Philip Schaff, History of the Christian Church, 1:329-33.] The impending death of Paul lent added urgency to his charge to Timothy.