Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:8

"But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation." — 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (ASV)

Paul now resumes his exhortation but drops for the moment the need for alertness, speaking only of sobriety as a countermeasure against “spiritual” drunkenness. The idea of belonging to the realm of “spiritual” daylight goes back to vv.4–5 and becomes the motivation for self-controlled action. So Paul describes self-control in figurative language drawn from Isa 59:17 (cf. Ephesians 6:14– 17). Though the breastplate and helmet were Roman military apparel, lexical similarity to the Isaiah passage points to the OT as the probable source for the reference to them here.

The relation of this soldierly figure of speech to sobriety has been a puzzle.

Obviously soberness is a prerequisite to effective vigilance by a sentry on duty, though vigilance is covered in the earlier word on alertness (v.6). Intoxication prevents effective duty as a sentry, and this thought may supply the answer. To be armed against wild excitement with its disregard of normal Christian responsibilities requires soberness. Paul had earlier spoken of the need for calmness (4:11–12). The Thessalonians had already made significant progress in faith and love (1:3; 3:6), but additional improvement was still needed (3:10; 4:1, 10). So the breastplate of “faith and love” could furnish protection from the problems mentioned in 5:14. To these Paul added the indispensable helmet of the “hope of salvation” (cf. 1:10). These three (faith, love, and hope) strengthened them for their present trials and doubts. The Thessalonians could confidently anticipate a future deliverance not to be enjoyed by those in darkness (v.3), but assured to those in the realm of light (vv.4–5).

Paul used a fully dressed Roman soldier as a picture of the Christian warrior. Drawing by Rachel Bierling.