ACC ~ Colossians 4 v5

WISE AS SERPENTS. CHRYSOSTOM: “Redeeming,” he says, “the time”: that is, the present time is short. Now Paul said this because he did not want them to be crafty, nor hypocrites (for this is not a part of wisdom, but of senselessness). What then? In matters where outsiders are not harming you, don’t give them an opportunity. … If you are going to experience conflict with the outside world, Paul writes, let the conflict have its origin in your preaching—and not in any other source. HOMILIES ON COLOSSIANS 11.

AMBROSIASTER: Since we must live among unbelievers and mix with them in worldly business, Paul urges us to be wise about the possibility of creating a stir, lest we give these folk an opportunity for blaspheming God or engaging in persecution. Why then should you carry on business with anyone that you know to be a source of contention and trouble? Thus, Paul admonishes us to use religious speech opportunely both as to time and place. But if anyone is difficult, be silent. Different courses of action are suitable for dealing with powerful people, with people of middle or lower stations in life. One deals one way with gentle persons, another way with those who are filled with anger. This is what it means to redeem the time. COMMENTARY ON THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS.

PELAGIUS: Paul enjoins the Colossians to make a good time from a bad time by means of their prudence. PELAGIUS’S COMMENTARY ON THE LETTER TO THE COLOSSIANS.

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