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Selected Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:8 - King James
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Th 5:8 |
King James |
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| 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 righteousness which is imputed to man for justification, is "faith working by love" (Rom 4:3, Rom 4:22-24; Gal 5:6). "Faith," as the motive within, and "love," exhibited in outward acts, constitute the perfection of righteousness. In Eph 6:17 the helmet is "salvation"; here, "the hope of salvation." In one aspect "salvation" is a present possession (Joh 3:36; Joh 5:24; Jo1 5:13); in another, it is a matter of "hope" (Rom 8:24-25). Our Head primarily wore the "breastplate of righteousness" and "helmet of salvation," that we might, by union with Him, receive both. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
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 Eph 6:14.
And for an helmet, the hope of salvation - See the notes at Eph 6:17. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
salvation
(See Scofield) - (Rom 1:16). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
Putting on (ἐνδυσάμενοι)
The son of day clothes himself for the day's work or battle. The same association of ideas as in Th1 5:6, Th1 5:8, is found in Rom 13:12-14; Rev 16:15; Pe1 1:13. Comp. lxx, Bar. 5:2.
Breastplate - helmet
Comp. Eph 6:14. The figures are not original with Paul. See Isa 59:17; Wisd. 5:18, 19. Notice that only defensive armor is mentioned, in accordance with the darkness and uncertainty of the last time; and that the fundamental elements of Christian character, faith, hope, and love, are brought forward again as in Th1 1:3; Co1 13:13. For the figure of the armed soldier, comp. also Rom 13:12; Co2 10:4. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Putting on the breastplate - We are not only called to Work, but we are called also to fight; and that we may not be surprised, we must watch; and that we may be in a condition to defend ourselves, we must be sober; and that we may be enabled to conquer, we must be armed: and what the breastplate and helmet are to a soldier's heart and head, such are faith, love, and hope to us. Faith enables us to endure, as seeing him who is invisible; love excites us to diligence and activity, and makes us bear our troubles and difficulties pleasantly; hope helps us to anticipate the great end, the glory that shall be revealed, and which we know we shall in due time obtain, if we faint not. For an explanation of the different parts of the Grecian armor, as illustrating that of the Christian, see the notes on Ephesians 6 (note), where the subject is largely explained. |
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.