After spending considerable time on the woeful ways of those untouched by Christ (5:3-14), the Ephesians' author now moves to the positive characteristics that distinguish Christian behavior. Although the general tone of these passages is more upbeat than downcast, the author continues his established pattern of citing a negative example followed by a positive Christ-inspired condition or action. The tightly woven, tersely interlocking nature of separate texts and ideas is quite evident throughout this section.

The first negative/positive example is "unwise"/"wise," although the overarching exhortation in verse 15 is to "be careful." That imperative links the "unwise" and "wise" to the topic in verse 16. "Making the most of the time" or more succinctly to "redeem time" is thus the activity…