The Meaning of Colossians 4:5 Explained

Colossians 4:5

KJV: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

YLT: in wisdom walk ye toward those without, the time forestalling;

Darby: Walk in wisdom towards those without, redeeming opportunities.

ASV: Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Walk  in  wisdom  toward  them that are without,  redeeming  the time. 

What does Colossians 4:5 Mean?

Verse Meaning

With respect to his readers" relationship to unbelievers, Paul counseled the use of wisdom as most important. This involves living life in the light of God"s revelation and then applying this knowledge to specific situations ( Colossians 1:9). The Greek word translated "opportunity" (kairos, lit. time) probably implies the opportune time, as it does in some other places. The opportunity in view seems to be the opportunity to bring others into full union with Christ (cf. Colossians 4:3).

Context Summary

Colossians 4:2-9 - Prayer And Daily Living
We must pray more. Our lives cannot maintain the Godward attitude without prolonged seasons of communication with Him through the Word. This is so important that we must be ever on the watch against whatever might mar the life of devotion. Intercession will often unlock frost-bitten lips and make our souls glow. Withal praying also for us. If we are shut in and cannot perform active service, we can surely pray for those who are entrusted with the mystery of Christ; and let those who are called to active service be ready to step in when God opens the door, Colossians 4:3. The limitations of life are no excuse for idleness, Colossians 4:4.
It is not easy to walk in wisdom towards those that are without. But God will teach us how to buy up opportunities and crowd each of them with good service. Our talk may sparkle like salt and purify as it does. Paul bound his fellow-workers to himself by the high estimate he placed on them. Love idealizes. Probably we should have thought some of these men to be very ordinary, but the Apostle saw them in hues borrowed from his own heart. Onesimus, a runaway slave, recently converted, is described as a faithful and beloved brother! [source]

Chapter Summary: Colossians 4

1  He exhorts them to be fervent in prayer;
5  to walk wisely toward those who are not yet come to the true knowledge of Christ
10  He salutes them, and wishes them all prosperity

Greek Commentary for Colossians 4:5

Toward them that are without [προς τους εχω]
A Pauline phrase for those outside the churches (1 Thessalonians 5:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12.). It takes wise walking to win them to Christ. [source]
Redeeming the time [τον καιρον εχαγοραζομενοι]
We all have the same time. Paul goes into the open market and buys it up by using it rightly. See the same metaphor in Ephesians 5:16. [source]
In wisdom [ἐν σοφίᾳ]
Compare Ephesians 5:15, as wise. [source]
Those that are without [τοὺς ἔξω]
As 1 Corinthians 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:12. Compare τοὺς ἔσω thosewithin, 1 Corinthians 5:12. [source]
Redeeming the time [τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι]
Compare Ephesians 5:16, and Daniel 2:8, Sept. The word is used in the New Testament only by Paul, Galatians 3:13; Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. The compounded preposition ἐξ has the meaning out of; as Galatians 3:13, “Christ redeemed us out of the curse,” etc., and out and out, fully. So here and Ephesians 5:16, buy up. Rev., in margin, buying up the opportunity. The favorable opportunity becomes ours at the price of duty. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Colossians 4:5

Mark 9:50 Will ye season [ἀρτύσετε]
Lit., will ye restore. Compare Colossians 4:5. [source]
Mark 4:11 Unto them that are without [ἐκείνοις τοῖς ἔξω]
The two latter words are peculiar to Mark. The phrase means those outside of our circle. Its sense is always determined by the contrast to it. Thus, 1 Corinthians 5:12, 1 Corinthians 5:13, it is non-Christians in contrast with me. Colossians 4:5, Christians contrasted with people of the world. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Timothy 3:7. Matthew (Matthew 13:11), with less precision, uses simply ἐκείνοις (to them), the pronoun of remote reference. Luke 8:10, τοῖς λοιποῖς (to the rest )i1. [source]
Acts 19:37 Nor blasphemers of our goddess [ουτε βλασπημουντας την τεον ημων]
Nor those who blasphemed our goddess. That is to say, these men (Gaius and Aristarchus) as Christians had so conducted themselves (Colossians 4:5) that no charge could be placed against them either in act (temple-robbery) or word (blasphemy). They had done a rash thing since these men are innocent. Paul had used tact in Ephesus as in Athens in avoiding illegalities. [source]
Galatians 6:10 As we have opportunity [ὡς καιρὸν ἔχωμεν]
As there is a proper season for reaping, there is likewise a proper season for sowing. As this season comes to us, let us sow to the Spirit by doing good. Comp. Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5. [source]
Galatians 3:13 Hath redeemed [ἐξηγόρασεν]
PoBetter redeemed. Comp. Galatians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5. In lxx once, Daniel 2:8. See on Colossians 4:5. [source]
Galatians 3:13 Redeemed us [ημας εχηγορασεν]
First aorist active of the compound verb εχαγοραζω — exagorazō (Polybius, Plutarch, Diodorus), to buy from, to buy back, to ransom. The simple verb αγοραζω — agorazō (1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Corinthians 7:23) is used in an inscription for the purchase of slaves in a will (Deissmann, Light from the Ancient East, p. 324). See also Galatians 4:5; Colossians 4:5; Ephesians 5:16. Christ purchased us from the curse of the law “Out from (εκ — ek repeated) under (υπο — hupo in Galatians 3:10) the curse of the law.” [source]
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time [ἐξαγοραζόμενοι τὸν καιπόν]
See on Colossians 4:5. [source]
Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time [εχαγοραζομενοι τον καιρον]
As in Colossians 4:5 which see. [source]
1 Thessalonians 1:9 Unto you [πρὸς]
The preposition combines with the sense of direction that of relation and intercourse. Comp. Matthew 13:56; Mark 9:16; John 1:1; Acts 3:25; Colossians 4:5; Hebrews 9:20. [source]
1 Timothy 3:7 From them that are without [απο των εχωτεν]
“From the outside (of the church) ones.” Paul‘s care for the witness of outsiders is seen in 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 10:32; Colossians 4:5. There are, of course, two sides to this matter. [source]
Hebrews 13:9 Which have not profited them that have been occupied therein [ἐν οἶς οὐκ ὠφελήθησαν οἱ περιπατοῦντες]
Lit. in the which they who walked were not profited. Περιπατεῖν towalk about is often used to express habitual practice or general conduct of life. See Romans 6:4; 2 Corinthians 10:3; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:7; Colossians 4:5. [source]

What do the individual words in Colossians 4:5 mean?

In wisdom walk toward those outside the time redeeming
Ἐν σοφίᾳ περιπατεῖτε πρὸς τοὺς ἔξω τὸν καιρὸν ἐξαγοραζόμενοι

σοφίᾳ  wisdom 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: σοφία  
Sense: wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters.
περιπατεῖτε  walk 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.
πρὸς  toward 
Parse: Preposition
Root: πρός  
Sense: to the advantage of.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἔξω  outside 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
καιρὸν  time 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: καιρός  
Sense: due measure.
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι  redeeming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐξαγοράζω  
Sense: to redeem.