Colossians 4:5
New International Version
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

New Living Translation
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

English Standard Version
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Berean Standard Bible
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

Berean Literal Bible
Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time.

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

New King James Version
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

New American Standard Bible
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

NASB 1995
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

NASB 1977
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

Legacy Standard Bible
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

Amplified Bible
Conduct yourself with wisdom in your interactions with outsiders (non-believers), make the most of each opportunity [treating it as something precious].

Christian Standard Bible
Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

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

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders and buy your opportunities.

Contemporary English Version
When you are with unbelievers, always make good use of the time.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Walk with wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time.

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Be wise in the way you act toward those who are outside [the Christian faith]. Make the most of your opportunities.

Good News Translation
Be wise in the way you act toward those who are not believers, making good use of every opportunity you have.

International Standard Version
Behave wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of your time.

Literal Standard Version
Walk in wisdom toward those outside, redeeming the time,

Majority Standard Bible
Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time.

New American Bible
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

NET Bible
Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunities.

New Revised Standard Version
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time.

New Heart English Bible
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Webster's Bible Translation
Walk in wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time.

Weymouth New Testament
Behave wisely in relation to the outside world, buying up your opportunities.

World English Bible
Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.

Young's Literal Translation
in wisdom walk ye toward those without, the time forestalling;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Fellow Workers
4Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should. 5Act wisely toward outsiders, redeeming the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.…

Cross References
Mark 4:11
He replied, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables,

Ephesians 5:15
Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Ephesians 5:16
redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1 Thessalonians 4:12
Then you will behave properly toward outsiders, without being dependent on anyone.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Walk.

Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Psalm 90:12
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Matthew 10:16
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

them.

1 Corinthians 5:12,13
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? …

1 Thessalonians 4:12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

1 Timothy 3:7
Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

redeeming.

Ephesians 5:16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

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Act Behave Buying Conduct Good Making Opportunities Opportunity Outside Outsiders Redeeming Relation Time Towards Walk Way Wisdom Wise Wisely World Yourselves
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Act Behave Buying Conduct Good Making Opportunities Opportunity Outside Outsiders Redeeming Relation Time Towards Walk Way Wisdom Wise Wisely World Yourselves
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.














(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 recklessness within; here the "wisdom" is to watch against external dangers and make full use of external opportunities.

Verse 5. - Walk in wisdom towards those without (Ephesians 5:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 10:32; 2 Corinthians 4:2; Titus 2:8; 1 Peter 2:12, 15; 1 Peter 3:16; Matthew 10:16). (On "wisdom," see Colossians 1:9, note; Colossians 1:28; 2:3; 3:16; this was a chief need of the Colossian Church.) "Those without," as opposed to Christians - "those within the pale;" a Jewish mode of expression (Lightfoot): comp. 1 Thessalonians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 5:12, 13; 1 Timothy 3:7. From a different point of view, they are designated" the rest" in Ephesians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:13; 1 Thessalonians 5:6. This injunction appears in a different form and position in Ephesians. Standing at the close of the writer's exhortations, and followed up by the direction of the next verse, it is more pointed and emphatic here. Buying up each (literally, the) opportunity (Ephesians 5:16; 1 Corinthians 7:29; Galatians 6:10; John 11:9, 10; Luke 13:32; Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). In Ephesians 5:16 the reason is added, "because the days are evil." In Daniel 2:8 (LXX) the verb ἐξαγοράζω ("to buy out" or "up," a word of the market) has precisely this sense and connection, and the idiom occurs in classical writers. The verb is middle in voice: "buying up for yourselves," "for your own advantage." In Galatians 3:13 the compound verb is somewhat differently used. The opportunity is the fit time for each step of a well-conducted walk, the precise juncture of circumstances which must be seized at once or it is gone. This wary promptitude is always needful in dealing with men of the world, both to avoid harm from them and in seeking to do them good. The latter thought, it may be, connects this verse and the next.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Act
περιπατεῖτε (peripateite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4043: From peri and pateo; to tread all around, i.e. Walk at large; figuratively, to live, deport oneself, follow.

wisely
σοφίᾳ (sophia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4678: Wisdom, insight, skill (human or divine), intelligence. From sophos; wisdom.

toward
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

outsiders,
ἔξω (exō)
Adverb
Strong's 1854: Without, outside. Adverb from ek; out(-side, of doors), literally or figuratively.

redeeming
ἐξαγοραζόμενοι (exagorazomenoi)
Verb - Present Participle Middle - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 1805: From ek and agorazo; to buy up, i.e. Ransom; figuratively, to rescue from loss.

the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

time.
καιρὸν (kairon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2540: Fitting season, season, opportunity, occasion, time. Of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. Set or proper time.


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NT Letters: Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who (Coloss. Col Co)
Colossians 4:4
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