1 Thessalonians 5:8

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, etc.] As in body, so in mind; let us cast off the works of darkness, and have no fellowship with them; since the day of grace has passed upon us, the darkness is gone, and the true light shines, let us walk as children of the light, living soberly, righteously, and godly: putting on the breastplate of faith and love; this is the coat of mail, (<091705>1 Samuel 17:5,38) which was made of iron or brass; and the Ethiopic version here calls it, “the iron coat.” The allusion seems to be to the high priest's breastplate of judgment, in which were put the Thummim and Urim, which signify perfections and lights; faith may answer to the former, and love to the…”

“Faith, hope, and love, are the three pre-eminent graces (Th1 1:3; Co1 13:13). We must not only be awake and sober, but also armed; not only watchful, but also guarded. The armor here is only defensive; in Eph 6:13-17, also offensive. Here, therefore, the reference is to the Christian means of being guarded against being surprised by the day of the Lord as a thief in the night. The helmet and breastplate defend the two vital parts, the head and the heart respectively. "With head and heart right, the whole man is right" [EDMUNDS]. The head needs to be kept from error, the heart from sin. For "the breastplate of righteousness," Eph 6:14, we have here "the breastplate of faith and love"; for the…”

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober - Temperate, as people usually are in the daytime. Putting on the breast-plate of faith and love - This is a favorite comparison of the apostle Paul; see it explained at length in the notes on Ephesians 6:14. And for an helmet, the hope of salvation - See the notes at Ephesians 6:17. return to 'Top of Page'”

“5:8 Armor . . . helmet (Isa 59:17; Eph 6:11-17): The armament is the moral life (Rom 13:12; 2 Cor 6:7; 10:3-5; 2 Tim 2:3-4). The Christian soldier is equipped with the virtues of faith, love, and confidence (see 1 Thes 1:3; 3:6; 1 Cor 13:13; 2 Thes 1:3-4).”

“who: Th1 5:5; Rom 13:13; Eph 5:8, Eph 5:9; Pe1 2:9; Jo1 1:7 the breastplate: Isa 59:17; Rom 13:12; Co2 6:7; Eph 6:11, Eph 6:13-18 the hope: Job 19:23-27; Psa 42:5, Psa 42:11, Psa 43:5; Lam 3:26; Rom 5:2-5, Rom 8:24, Rom 8:25; Co1 13:13; Gal 5:5; Th2 2:16; Heb 6:19, Heb 10:35, Heb 10:36; Pe1 1:3-5, Pe1 1:13; Jo1 3:1-3 1 Thessalonians 5:9”