Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 4:5

Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 4:5 - 4:6

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Colossians 4:5 - 4:6

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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Col_4:5-6

⁵Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. ⁶Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Col_4:5-6 These two verses relate to evangelism. Believers are to live in such a way that non-believers are (1) not turned off, but (2) attracted. Every believer is to be a verbal witness and a lifestyle witness (cf. 1Pe_3:15)!

Col_4:5

NASB "Conduct yourselves with wisdom"

NKJV     "walk in wisdom"

NRSV     "conduct yourselves wisely"

TEV      "Be wise in the way you act"

NJB      "Act wisely"

This is another present active imperative, "always conduct yourselves with wisdom." Believers are to be intentional evangelists. Evangelism is God's will for the church (cf. Mat_28:19-20). Every believer is a full time minister of the gospel (cf. Eph_4:11-12).

NASB "making the most of the opportunity'

NKJV     "redeeming the time"

NRSV     "making the most of the time"

TEV      "making good use of every opportunity you have"

NJB      "making the best of the present time"

This is a present middle participle. This was the term (exagorazô) used to describe redemption (cf. Gal_3:13; Gal_4:5). It had an OT connotation of buying someone back from slavery, even sometimes the personal agency of a near relative (go'el). It was used metaphorically of making the most of an opportunity by buying something at a good price or at an appropriate time (cf. Eph_5:16).

Believers must live godly lives and use godly wisdom so that when evangelistic and spiritual opportunities come they can take full advantage of them!

Col_4:6 "speech. . .seasoned. . .with salt" Believers must watch their speech (cf. Eph_4:29). They are known by their words (cf. Mat_15:1-20; Mar_7:2-23) and judged by their words (cf. Mat_12:33-37; Luk_6:39-45). Our speech and our lives will open opportunities for witnessing! Intention, not which evangelistic methodology one chooses to use, is the key. Prayer, not perfect presentation, is crucial. Wisdom is helpful but the Spirit is the determinative factor! See Special Topic: Human Speech at Col_3:10.