Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians

Comm on Phil, Col, Thes
Colossians 4:5-9
5. Walk in wisdom toward them that are 5. Sapienter ambulate erga extraneos, tempus
without, redeeming the time.
redimentes.
6. Let your speech be alway with grace, 6. Sermo vester semper in gratia sit sale
seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye conditus: ut sciatis quomodo oporteat vos
ought to answer every man.
unicuique respondere.
7. All my state shall Tychicus declare unto 7. Res meas omnes patefaciet vobis Tychicus
you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful dilectus frater et fidelis minister ac conservus in
minister and fellowservant in the Lord: Domino.
8. Whom I have sent unto you for the same 8. Quem misi ad vos hac de causa, ut sciretis
purpose, that he might know your estate, and statum meum, et consolaretur corda vestra:
comfort your hearts;
9. With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved 9. Cum Onesimo fideli et dilecto fratre, qui
brother, who is one of you. They shall make est ex vobis. Omnia patefacient vobis quae hic
known unto you all things which are done here. sunt.
5. 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 have regard to be had to them, rather than to believers? There are three reasons:
first,
lest any stumblingblock be put in,
the way of the blind, (Leviticus 19:14,)
for nothing is more ready to occur, 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. Secondly, it is lest any occasion may be given for detracting from the honor of the
gospel, and thus the name of Christ be exposed to derision, persons be rendered more hostile, and
disturbances and persecutions be stirred up. Lastly, it is, lest, while we are mingled together, in
partaking of food, and on other occasions, we be defiled by their pollutions, and by little and little
become profane.
To the same effect, also, is what follows, redeeming the time, that is, because intercourse 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.” The more, therefore, that our path is blocked up with occasions
of offense, so much the more carefully must we take heed lest our feet should stumble, or we should
stop short through indolence.
6. Your speech. He requires suavity of speech, such as may allure the hearers by its profitableness,
for he does not merely condemn communications that are openly wicked or impious, but also such
as are worthless and idle. Hence he would have them seasoned with salt. Profane men have their
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John Calvin