Colossians 4:5

For it is necessary for us to walk among unbelievers and engage in conversations for the sake of worldly conversation. This is what it reminds us, that our conversation should be with wisdom itself because of the offense of the Gentiles, so that they may not take an opportunity to blaspheme through us and be stirred up to persecute. For what need is there to speak with someone whom you know to be stubborn and obstinate in mind, ready to make insults? Therefore, she advises that these things should be spoken with appropriate place and time, under the guidance of modesty and religion: or if such a person is present, who makes a lot of noise, then it should be kept silent. Otherwise, it must be dealt with differently with the powerful of the world, differently with the average, and differently with the humble. Also, it must be dealt with differently with the gentle and differently with the angry, whom one must yield to, that is, redeem the time. For when you yield to the assailant's words on Sundays and the audacity of harmful time, you gain the injuries of dangerous time. For if the head, that is, the king, agrees with the body, then there is freedom to speak the words of God with gentleness, so that they may be provoked to do good. Nevertheless, when they are loud and bold for insults, you must always yield; for you conquer, while yielding.

"Walk in wisdom" he saith, "towards them that are without, redeeming the time." That is, the time is not yours, but theirs. Do not then wish to have your own way, but redeem the time. And he said not simply, "Buy," but "redeem," making it yours after another manner. For it were the part of excessive madness, to invent occasions of war and enmity. For over and above the undergoing of superfluous and profitless dangers, there is this additional harm, that the Greeks will not come over to us. For when thou art amongst the brethren, reason is thou shouldest be bold; but when without, thou oughtest not to be so. Seest thou how everywhere he speaks of those without, the Greeks? Wherefore also when writing to Timothy, he said, "Moreover, he must have good testimony from them that are without." (1 Tim. iii. 7.) And again, "For what have I to do with judging them that are without." (1 Cor. v. 12.) "Walk in wisdom," he saith, "toward them that are without." For "without," they are, even though they live in the same world with us, seeing they are without the kingdom, and the paternal mansion. And he comforts them withal, by calling the others "without," as he said above, "Your life is hid with Christ in God." (Col. iii. 3.) Then, he saith, seek ye glory, then honors, then all those other things, but not so now, but give them up to those without.