Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Colossians 4:5
What does Colossians 4:5 mean?
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Colossians 4:5
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The text urges Christians to be "wise toward outsiders" not just to avoid causing offense, but to actively "buy up" opportunities for witness and positive example. This means shrewdly seizing every favorable moment, recognizing that such strategic engagement is an investment in God's purposes.
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul is concluding his letter with practical instructions for the church in Colossae. Having addressed doctrinal errors and encouraged them to live out their new life in Christ, he now turns to how they should conduct themselves within their community and, importantly, toward those outside the faith. This verse immediately follows exhortations about prayer and is followed by instructions on how their speech should be characterized, all within the context of Paul's personal updates and greetings.
Ever feel awkward talking about your faith? Paul gives us a blueprint for navigating conversations with people who don't share our beliefs.
Paul instructs believers to 'walk in wisdom toward outsiders.' This isn't about slick debating tactics or pushing an agenda. It's about a practical, applied wisdom that shapes our entire demeanor and actions when interacting with those outside the Christian community.
What This Wisdom Looks Like:
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Time is fleeting, and opportunities to share God's love don't last forever. How can we make the most of every moment?
The phrase 'redeeming the time' (or 'buying up the opportunity') is a powerful call to action. It means we're not just passively letting time pass by, but actively and purposefully engaging with it.
Understanding 'Redeeming the Time':
Understand the original words
peripateō · Greek Verb
To live or conduct one’s life in a particular manner, emphasizing the practical, ongoing expression of one's faith.
sophia · Greek Noun
The practical application of spiritual knowledge; it involves discernment, godly character, and the ability to act according to God’s will in everyday life.
exō · Greek Adjective
Those outside the community of faith; non-believers who observe the conduct of the church.
kairos · Greek Noun
The God-ordained window of opportunity given to believers to fulfill their purpose; implies the necessity of urgency in stewardship.
The instruction to 'walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time' was given during a period of both internal church challenges and external societal pressures, including potential persecution, making wise and opportune engagement with non-believers crucial for the gospel's witness.
c. AD 50-52
Paul's Ministry in Ephesus
During Paul's extended stay in Ephesus, he likely wrote the letter to the Colossians, possibly from prison. This period was marked by significant ministry and challenges.
c. AD 55-57— this verse
Writing of the Letter to the Colossians
Paul penned this letter while imprisoned, likely in Rome or Ephesus, to address specific issues within the Colossian church, such as false teachings and the need for sound Christian living.
c. AD 60-62
Paul's Imprisonment in Rome
Paul's first Roman imprisonment provided opportunities to minister to those around him and continue writing, including letters that reflect similar themes to Colossians.
c. AD 64
Great Fire of Rome and Persecution
The Neronian persecution of Christians followed the Great Fire of Rome, creating a tense atmosphere for believers and underscoring the need for wise conduct towards outsiders.
This passage echoes the call to 'walk wisely' and 'redeem the time,' emphasizing that believers should live with purpose and make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.
1 Thessalonians 4:12This verse speaks to living honorably 'toward outsiders' so that believers 'may make a life for yourselves in the outside world,' which directly parallels the instruction to 'walk in wisdom toward outsiders' and live a life that commands respect.
Matthew 10:16Jesus tells his disciples to be 'wise as serpents and innocent as doves,' a directive that powerfully illustrates the practical 'wisdom' Paul calls for in Colossians 4:5 when interacting with those outside the faith.
1 Peter 3:15This passage instructs believers to 'always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you,' highlighting the importance of having wise and thoughtful responses ready when engaging with non-believers, a key aspect of redeeming the time.
meyerColossians 4:5: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."
Colossians 4:5 f. Another exhortation, for which Paul must still have had occasion, although we need not seek its link of connection with the preceding one. Comp. Ephesians 5:15 f., where the injunction here given in reference to the non-Christians is couched in a general form. ἐν σοφίᾳ ] Practical Christian wisdom (not mere prudence; Chrysostom aptly quotes Matthew 10:16 ) is to be the element , in which their w…
ellicottColossians 4:5: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time."
(5) Walk in wisdom . . . redeeming the time. —In the parallel passage ( Ephesians 5:15 ) we have “walk strictly, not as fools, but as wise,” and the limitation “towards them that are without” is omitted, although it is added that “the days are evil.” The context, as will be seen by reference, is different, and the idea also somewhat different. There the “strictness” and “wisdom” are to guard against excess or rec…
The text urges Christians to be "wise toward outsiders" not just to avoid causing offense, but to actively "buy up" opportunities for witness and positive example. This means shrewdly seizing every favorable moment, recognizing that such strategic engagement is an investment in God's purposes.
Paul is concluding his letter with practical instructions for the church in Colossae. Having addressed doctrinal errors and encouraged them to live out their new life in Christ, he now turns to how they should conduct themselves within their community and, importantly, toward those outside the faith. This verse immediately follows exhortations about prayer and is followed by instructions on how their speech should be characterized, all within the context of Paul's personal updates and greetings.
Paul is concluding his letter with practical instructions for the church in Colossae. Having addressed doctrinal errors and encouraged them to live out their new life in Christ, he now turns to how they should conduct themselves within their community and, importantly, toward those outside the faith. This verse immediately follows exhortations about prayer and is followed by instructions on how their speech should be characterized, all within the context of Paul's personal updates and greetings.
"Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time." — The text urges Christians to be "wise toward outsiders" not just to avoid causing offense, but to actively "buy up" opportunities for witness and positive example. This means shrewdly seizing every f…
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Last reviewed October 2026