Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Redeeming the time-- (Colossians 4:5). Greek, "Buying up for yourselves the seasonable time" (whenever it occurs) of good to yourselves and to others. Buying off from the vanities of "them that are without" (Colossians 4:5), and of the "unwise" (here in Ephesians), the opportune time afforded to you for the work of God. In a narrower sense, special favorable seasons for good, occasionally presenting themselves, are referred to, of which believers ought diligently to avail themselves. This constitutes true "wisdom" (Ephesians 5:15). In a larger sense, the whole season from the time that one is spiritually awakened, is to be "redeemed" from vanity for God (compare 2 Corinthians 6:2; 1 Peter 4:2-4). "Redeem" implies the preciousness of the opportune season, a jewel to be bought at any price. WAHL explains, "Redeeming for yourselves (that is, availing yourselves of) the opportunity (offered you of acting aright), and commanding the time as a master does his servant." TITTMANN, "Watch the time, and make it your own so as to control it; as merchants look out for opportunities, and accurately choose out the best goods; serve not the time, but command it, and it shall do what you approve." So PINDAR [Pythia, 4.509], "The time followed him as his servant, and was not as a runaway slave."
because the days are evil--The days of life in general are so exposed to evil, as to make it necessary to make the most of the seasonable opportunity so long as it lasts (Ephesians 6:13; Genesis 47:9; Psalms 49:5; Ecclesiastes 11:2; Ecclesiastes 12:1; John 12:35). Besides, there are many special evil days (in persecution, sickness, etc.) when the Christian is laid by in silence; therefore he needs the more to improve the seasonable times afforded to him (Amos 5:13), which Paul perhaps alludes to.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Daniel 2:8
Amos 5:13
Micah 2:3
Colossians 4:5
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