Ephesians 5:16 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Redeeming the time,— The word εξαγοραζομενοι, redeeming, has a peculiar force, and implies, as the French word racheter, and the English word redeem, also does,—the recovery and purchasing again what has been lost. "Endeavour to recover, and bring back, as far as possible, the time which has been unhappily lost and thrown away in the enormities of your heathen life, by diligently making use of what remains, and studying to improve it to the best and most valuable purposes; for which you should be careful to embrace the present opportunity, because the days we live in are evil; in which we are on every side surrounded with persecutions and perils, and God only knows how soon our liberty or our life may be taken away." Dr. Heylin reads Improving the time; and he observes from Tully, that every hour has its proper duty; nullum tempus vacare officio potest. When we discharge that duty, we improve, that is, make the best of our time. The motive added is, because the days are evil: the frequent disasters which happen to us furnish materials for the exercise of holiness and virtue, which is the true improvement of time.