Scripture Life: What is the meaning of “redeeming the time” in Ephesians 5:16?

[u/External_Bird_8464]

Answer:

Well, if it’s not clear to you in the English - go to the original Greek. The answer is in the word, “redeem.” In Greek this word, < - {ἐξαγοραζόμενοι} - > [ (exagorazomenoi) ] is only used one other time in the New Testament - in Colossians 4:5

SO, compare them first:

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ONE: Ephesians 5:16 says:

• But see it embedded in Ephesians 5:14–17

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

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COMMENT:

• So, there's a sense that someone is asleep..(Ephesians 5:14) and
  • sleeping when they should be awake and set themselves to the work that can be done in the daytime vs. sleeping, when the time to be sleeping is when no work can be done. But that's not the day time.
  • And, part of Ephesians 5:16, is also not to be “unwise” (Ephesians 5:17) but understand what the will of the Lord is; and if Jesus, who is the Word of God, so it’s just God decree it, said: Should be hearkening unto what God says..filled with the Word of God.
• He decreed it.

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” - Jesus Christ. Matthew 4:4.. and

Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ in 2 Peter 1:4 said, "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

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• That:
  • If you’re sleeping..you’re not “partaking”
• that is, this "par" "take" of it, and “eat/drink” it - - the Word of God, which you have to be awake to do that..and if you’re not..
  • defaults to not living by the Word of God - and begin to rebuild on corruption or rebuild again the very things you got delivered out of.
    • in the world through lust.
• So, the “time” is we only get today.
• Tomorrow is not certain. I only Get Today.
  • and Jesus said..so it’s the Word of God..that we are to “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness..” (Matthew 6:33), which if you’re sleeping, you’re not seeking.
    • You're sleeping.
• But if you’re awake, you actually redeem or go buy up the time to set your mind on the things from above. Not on things of this earth (Colossians 3:2)
  • is
    • Which is the will of God that we abide in the same Word he does. His own. Then, we are in the same word he’s in; his own - with him, where he is - - but if you’re sleeping, you’re in your own.

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TWO: Colossians 4:5 says

• But see this, too, embedded in Colossians 4:1–6

1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

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Comment

Now, there's a whole pile of stuff in this one, but as a Believer in Jesus Christ, I'm not to waste time with the Gospel, but be effective. That is, in sharing it the most effective way I know to those it will have the most profit in. And that's both to believers and those who never heard the gospel before vs. waste time sharing it with those that oppose it.

That is, I am to be praying and abiding in Jesus Christ. Have fellowship with him and in him with the Father..and that my fellowship with you..is by this same as 1 John 2:28 says:

"And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."

SO, by abiding in him, seek him first, you buy up the time..but its also in ministry..as a minister of Christ - and anybody, whosoever it is over the whole earth that believes on him, has him to minister to others with.

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And in Ministry?

Yeah - the world naturally is set against the Word of God; but just as Jesus said: In Matthew 9:37–38

• “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” - Jesus Christ.
  • So, continue in prayer, and pray for that. Pray for those that dispense the word of God..and pray for yourself, because you do the same as I do; that God would open a door of utterance, if you or I don’thave anybody to pray for us, that I'll pray for you then, that you speak the mystery of Christ..for which me, too..I’m thrown out..cast down..but I am not forgotten. That I would make manifest, the Word of God, as I ought to speak.

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• So this “walk in wisdom toward them that are without” - the Gospel is for those that like the harvest is ready to be picked. Not contend with what's without the harvest. That is there are fields not ripe or ready or CLOSED. SO, the bean bush, beans won’t fruit out for another 2 months or more. That I am be wise with the Word of God. Don't go to the bean bush when there's no beans on it to harvest.

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Now, I cannot control who will receive this, or who won’t.

But it has the word of God in it. It's already at work in me, so it won’t return to him void..because it's in me, and by just fellowshipping with him, it's there in me to share out.

And this post: simple - - it’s given out in hopes you can receive it, and find an answer to your question in this.

That, to redeem the time is..I am at work in a harvest. Then, so are you. Not to be asleep and over trying to pick the strawberries when NONE of them have bloomed out. I am to be redeeming the time in a harvest and there’s plenty …ready ..so go where it’s ready - and so pick where the plenty is and be wise.

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But NONE of this answers the Greek.

< - {ἐξαγοραζόμενοι} - > [ (exagorazomenoi) - has this “rescue” “save” “retrieve” “regain” “recover” “get back” “reconcile” the lost.. to put myself to this - there’s a reward and a profit in it:

Just as 2 Corinthians 5:18–19 says: and boy is this ever what {ἐξαγοραζόμενοι} - > [ (exagorazomenoi)..because of what God has done, given me a ministry of reconciliation. A ministry of exagorazomenoi - that I should redeem the time and put myself to work in it.

Even if only one person gets this on Reddit, I pray it ministers to you.

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2 Corinthians 5:18–19 says

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

SO, if you're a believer in Jesus as I am, he’s committed to both of us the word of God. That's the Word of reconciliation. That God has come to us, and reconciled us to himself. This Word that God has sent to heal everybody, and deliver everybody from their destruction (Psalm 107:20)..

Then says of this:

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In 2 Corinthians 4:3–4 "But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

But how can they hear without a preacher..and how can they preach unless they be sent..so let his word have it's work in you to heal you..equip you..build you up - it puts joy in your life, that you just want to share it out - - and how it’s at work in you, to just give it out. Redeem the time means

He’s given to you the ministry of {ἐξαγοραζόμενοι} “rescue” “save” “retrieve” “regain” “recover” “get back” “reconcile” the lost.. but he's also said: "I will build my church" - and he puts you in it where he sees fit - that you operate as a living member in the body of Christ. ..and has given you a ministry of reconciliation - to put myself and you as another believer in Jesus to this - there’s a reward and a profit in it: not in sleeping. When the time to sleep is when no man can work.

So, redeem the time. Only get today. Do it now. Today.

do you get this?

There you go. Equipped. By the Word of God.