Colossians 4:5

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. IN WISDOM - practical, Christian. (Notes, Ephesians 5:15) THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT - those not in the Christian brotherhood (; ). The brethren, through love, will make allowance for indiscretion in a brother; the world will make none. Be the more on your guard in contact with the latter. Give no pretext for unbelief. Contrive all means for their salvation. REDEEMING THE TIME (note, ) - buying up for yourselves, and buying off from worldly vanities, the opportunity, whenever afforded you, of good to...

5._Walk wisely. _He makes mention of _those that are without_, in contrast with those that are of the _household of faith_. (Galatians 6:10.) For the Church is like a city of which all believers are the inhabitants, connected with each other by a mutual relationship, while unbelievers are strangers. But why would he have regard to be had to them, rather than to believers? There are three reasons: _first_, lest any _stumblingblock be put in_, _the way of the blind_, (Leviticus 19:14,) for nothing is more ready to occur, than that unbelievers are driven from bad to worse through our imprudence, and their minds are wounded, so that they hold religion more and more in abhorrence. _Secondly_, it is lest any occasion may be given for det

2-6 No duties can be done aright, unless we persevere in fervent prayer, and watch therein with thanksgiving. The people are to pray particularly for their ministers. Believers are exhorted to right conduct towards unbelievers. Be careful in all converse with them, to do them good, and recommend religion by all fit means. Diligence in redeeming time, commends religion to the good opinion of others. Even what is only carelessness may cause a lasting prejudice against the truth. Let all discourse be discreet and seasonable, as becomes 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....

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 defence 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...

WALK IN WISDOM - That is, conduct uprightly and honestly. Deal with them on the strictest principles of integrity, so that they may not have occasion to reproach the religion which you profess. TOWARD THEM THAT ARE WITHOUT - Without the pale of the church, or who are not professing Christians; see the notes at 1 Corinthians 5:12. They were surrounded by pagans, as Christians now are by men of the world. The injunction is one that requires us to act with prudence and propriety (ἐν σοφίᾳ en sophia toward them; and there is perhaps not a more important direction in the New Testament than this. Among the reasons for this are the following: (1) People of the world judge of religion, not from the profession, but from the

EXPOSITION COLOSSIANS 4:1 (See Colossians 3:1.) COLOSSIANS 4:2 SECTION IX. PRAYER AND SOCIAL CONVERSE. There are added some brief exhortations of a more general tenor, the contents of which are summed up in the heading given to this section. COLOSSIANS 4:2 CONTINUE STEADFAST IN PRAYER, BEING WATCHFUL (or, _wakeful_) THEREIN, WITH THANKSGIVING. "Steadfast

WALK IN WISDOM,.... Or wisely, circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise men; 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

CHAPTER 4 __ 1. Prayer and ministry (Colossians 4:2) 2. Walking in wisdom (Colossians 4:5) 3. The fellowship of the saints in their service (Colossians 4:7) 4. The conclusion (Colossians 4:18) Colossians 4:2 The first verse of this chapter belongs to the preceding one. Prayer is the most needed thing for those who are risen with Christ and know that they are complete in Him. Without continued prayer the full realization of the great truths unfolded in this Epistle is impossible. Communi

A REQUEST FOR PRAYER: THE NEED OF WISDOM. The Colossians must persevere in prayer and be vigilant therein with thanksgiving; at the same time praying for Paul and His companions that God may open for them a door of opportunity for the preaching of the word and the proclamation of the mystery of Christ the mystery for the sake of which Paul is in prison that he may make manifest its hitherto hidden truth by preaching of the right kind. In relation to non-Christians, they are to walk wisely, buying up opportunities as they arise; their speech should be always courteous, and seasoned with the salt of a shrewdness which will know how to accommodate itself to individuals severally. Colossians 4:3. a door: _ cf._ 1 Corinthians 16:9;...

THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE CHRISTIAN (Colossians 3:18-25 ; Colossians 4:1) _ 4:1 Wives, be submissive to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not treat them harshly._ Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord. Fathers, do not irritate your children, that they may not lose heart. Slaves, obey in all things those who are your human masters, not only when you are watched, like those whose only desire is to please men, but in sincerity of heart, reverencing the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it heartily, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for men; and never forget that you will receive from the Lord your just recompense, even your share in the inheritance. Show yourselves t