Paragraph 4:5–6

Theme: Paul encouraged the Colossians always to speak wisely and kindly to those who did not believe in the Lord Jesus.

In 4:2–4 Paul asked the Colossians to pray that he would be able to proclaim the gospel to many people. Here in 4:5–6 he gave them advice about how they could preach the gospel to people they knew who were not believers. Paul never said explicitly in these verses, “tell these people about Jesus,” but that is obviously what he wanted the Colossians to do.

4:5a

outsiders: By outsiders, Paul meant non-Christians, people who did not believe in Jesus.

4:5b

redeeming the time: Paul was specifically referring to the way the Colossians should use every opportunity/circumstance to help unbelievers, especially to help them to become believers.

In Ephesians 5:15–16 Paul wrote, “Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” The underlined words are the same as here in 4:5b. Compare your translations of these two passages and use similar wording. In both Ephesians 5:15–16 and Colossians 4:5, Paul was advising the Christians to behave as Christians should, and to take every opportunity to help those who were not Christians.

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