SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:5
¶ Andad en sabiduría para con los extraos, ganando la ocasin.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Colossians 4:5
Verse 5. Walk in wisdom] Act wisely and prudently in reference to them who are without - who yet continue unbelieving Gentiles or persecuting Jews. The Church of Christ was considered an enclosure; a field, or vineyard, well hedged or walled. Those who were not members of it, were considered without; i.e. not under that especial protection and defense which the true followers of Christ had. This has been since called "The pale of the Church," from palus, a stake; or, as Dr. Johnson defines it, "A narrow piece of wood, joined above and below to a rail, to enclose grounds." As to be a Christian was essential to the salvation of the soul, so to be in the Church of Christ was essential to the being a Christian; therefore it was concluded that "there was no salvation out of the pale of the Church." Now this is true in all places where the doctrines of Christianity are preached; but when one description of people professing Christianity, with their own peculiar mode of worship and creed, arrogate to themselves, exclusive of all others, the title of THE Church; and then, on the ground of a maxim which is true in itself, but falsely understood and applied by them, assert that, as they are THE Church, and there is no Church besides, then you must be one of them, believe as they believe, and worship as they worship, or you will be infallibly damned; I say, when this is asserted, every man who feels he has an immortal spirit is called on to examine the pretensions of such spiritual monopolists. Now, as the Church of Christ is formed on the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone, the doctrines of this Christian Church must be sought for in the sacred Scriptures. As to fathers, councils, and human authorities of all kinds, they are, in this question, lighter than vanity; the book of God alone must decide. The Church, which has been so hasty to condemn all others, and, by its own soi disant or self-constituted authority, to make itself the determiner of the fates of men, dealing out the mansions of glory to its partisans, and the abodes of endless misery to all those who are out of its antichristian and inhuman pale; this Church, I say, has been brought to this standard, and proved by the Scriptures to be fallen from the faith of God's elect, and to be most awfully and dangerously corrupt; and to be within its pale, of all others professing Christianity, would be the most likely means of endangering the final salvation of the soul. Yet even in it many sincere and upright persons may be found, who, in spirit and practice, belong to the true Church of Christ. Such persons are to be found of all religious persuasions, and in all sorts of Christian societies.
Redeeming the time.] See on Eph. v. 16.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 5. Walk in wisdom , etc.] Or wisely, circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise men; (see Gill on Ephesians 5:15). Towards them that are without ; so the Jews used to call the Gentiles, all that were out of their own land, that were not of their nation or religion, who were aliens from them, and strangers to their privileges; and sometimes the unbelieving. Jews bear the same character, (see Mark 4:11). Here it may design such who were not members of this church; so the distinction of those that are without, and such as are within, is used by the apostle in ( 1 Corinthians 5:12). A church is an house or family, and such as belong to it are called the household of faith, and those that do not are they that are, without; it is as a city, and, those that are of it are fellow citizens with the saints, but others are strangers and foreigners; it is a garden enclosed, they that are planted in it are those that are within, and such as lie in the wide open field of the world are those that are without: but inasmuch as there are some who are not members of churches, and yet have the grace of God, this phrase may chiefly regard all unregenerate men, profane sinners, such as have not faith in Christ, nor hope in God, who are entirely destitute of the grace of God. Now it becomes saints to walk wisely towards them; all communication with them is not cut off, or correspondence and conversation with them forbidden; the saints indeed are not to have their conversation among them as in times past; they are to have no fellowship with them in immoral actions, and superstitious practices; but they may be concerned with them in things civil, with respect to trade and commerce, and the common business of life; on these accounts they may keep company with them; otherwise, as the apostle elsewhere says, they must needs go out of the world. But then it is incumbent upon them to behave wisely towards them, with the simplicity of the dove to join the wisdom of the serpent; they should walk inoffensively towards them, and do nothing to provoke them, to injure and persecute them, but take all prudent methods to gain their affections, escape their resentment and wrath, and obtain their liberty of worshipping God without disturbance; they should give to all their due, tribute, custom, fear, and honour, to whom they are due, and owe no man anything but love; they should submit to every ordinance of men and be subject to the higher powers, not only to escape wrath, but for conscience sake, and should give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; they should pray for kings, and all in authority; for the prosperity of the nation, city, and place where they are, for their carnal relations and neighbours, and even their very entities, and do them all the good, both for soul and body, that lies in their power, and as they have opportunity; and by so doing, they will heap up coals of fire on their heads.
Such a prudent walk, and wise conduct, is necessary on account of the Gospel, that the public ministration of it may be continued, that it may spread and get ground, and that it may not be reproached and blasphemed; and on the account of them that are without, that they may not have any stumblingblocks laid in their way, and they be hardened in their impiety and irreligion, and be more set against the truths of the Gospel; and also on account of believers themselves, who ought so to converse with the men of the world, that they are not partakers with them in their sins, and have their manners corrupted by them, or the vital heat of religion damped, and they become dead, lifeless, lukewarm, and indifferent to divine things, which is often the case through an indiscreet and imprudent walk with such men: the apostle adds, redeeming the time ; as an instance of prudent walking towards them that are without; (see Gill on Ephesians 5:16).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 2-6 - No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer and watch therein with thanksgiving. The people are to pra particularly for their ministers. Believers are exhorted to righ conduct towards unbelievers. Be careful in all converse with them, to do them good, and recommend religion by all fit means. Diligence i redeeming time, commends religion to the good opinion of others. Eve what is only carelessness may cause a lasting prejudice against the truth. Let all discourse be discreet and seasonable, as become Christians. Though it be not always of grace, it must always be with grace. Though our discourse be of that which is common, yet it must be in a Christian manner. Grace is the salt which seasons our discourse and keeps it from corrupting. It is not enough to answer what is asked unless we answer aright also.
Greek Textus Receptus
εν 1722 σοφια 4678 περιπατειτε 4043 5720 προς 4314 τους 3588 εξω 1854 τον 3588 καιρον 2540 εξαγοραζομενοι 1805 5734
Vincent's NT Word Studies
5. In wisdom (en sofia). Compare Eph. v. 15, as wise.
Those that are without (touv exw). As 1 Cor. v. 12, 13; 1 Thessalonians iv. 12. Compare touv esw those within, 1 Cor. v. 12. Redeeming the time (ton kairon exagorazomenoi). Compare Eph. v. 16, and Dan. ii. 8, Sept. The word is used in the New Testament only by Paul, Gal. iii. 13; iv. 5; Eph. v. 16. The compounded preposition ejx has the meaning out of; as Gal. iii. 13, "Christ redeemed us out of the curse," etc., and out and out, fully. So here and Eph. v. 16, buy up. Rev., in margin, buying up the opportunity. The favorable opportunity becomes ours at the price of duty.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
4:5 {Toward them that are without} (pros tous exw). A Pauline phrase for those outside the churches (#1Th 5:12; 1Co 5:12f.). It takes wise walking to win them to Christ. {Redeeming the time} (ton kairon exagorazomenoi). 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 #Eph 5:16.
