Walk in Love
redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:16 · Berean Standard Bible
Recognize that these are troubled times, so make the most of every opportunity you have—don't waste the time God's given you.
The early Christians believed they were living in the last days, in a period of spiritual conflict and moral darkness. This wasn't pessimism; it was urgency. If the days are evil and the time is short, every moment matters.
Paul, creating urgency around faithful living
This connects to Jesus' teaching about being ready, about using your talents wisely. Time is God's gift, and how you spend it reveals what you actually believe matters.
Believers must use their time strategically and redemptively, making the most of present opportunities precisely because the age itself is morally compromised and dangerous.
The phrase 'redeeming the time' (exagorazō ton kairon—literally 'buying back the time') appears also in Colossians 4:5, suggesting recurrent Pauline concern with temporal stewardship. The 'evil days' (hēmerai ponērai) reflects awareness of present affliction and moral corruption; Paul is not pessimistic about ultimate victory but clear-eyed about present opposition. The language evokes the Jewish apocalyptic consciousness—the present age is under the sway of hostile forces (Ephesians 6:12, 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood'), making time precious and finite for faithful witness.
Paul, grounding temporal ethics in eschatological urgency.
This participates in early Christian urgency about the imminence of the eschaton (1 Corinthians 7:29, 'the time is short'). Yet Paul does not counsel withdrawal but rather intense engagement—redemption of time means saturating the present moment with witness and obedience, not escape from it.
14So it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.
Read all of Ephesians 5 — Imitate God as beloved children. Walk in love. Walk in light. Paul transforms the household codes of his day with a vision of mutual, sacrificial love.
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