John Calvin Commentary Colossians 4:5

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." — Colossians 4:5 (ASV)

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 want consideration to be given to them, rather than to believers? There are three reasons:

1. First, lest any stumblingblock be put in,
   the way of the blind (Leviticus 19:14); for nothing is more likely to happen 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.

2. Secondly, it is lest any opportunity be given for detracting from the honor of the gospel, and thus the name of Christ be exposed to derision, people be rendered more hostile, and disturbances and persecutions be stirred up.

3. Lastly, it is lest, while we are mingled together in partaking of food and on other occasions, we be defiled by their pollutions and gradually become profane.

What follows, redeeming the time, also points to this; that is, because association with them is dangerous. For in Ephesians 5:16, he assigns the reason, because the days are evil. “Amidst so great a corruption as prevails in the world, we must seize opportunities of doing good, and we must struggle against impediments.” Therefore, the more our path is obstructed by occasions of offense, the more carefully we must be on guard lest our feet should stumble, or we should stop short through indolence.