Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
Faith, hope, and love, are the three pre-eminent graces (1 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Corinthians 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 Ephesians 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," Ephesians 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" (Romans 4:3, Romans 4:22-24; Galatians 5:6). "Faith," as the motive within, and "love," exhibited in outward acts, constitute the perfection of righteousness. In Ephesians 6:17 the helmet is "salvation"; here, "the hope of salvation." In one aspect "salvation" is a present possession (John 3:36; John 5:24; 1 John 5:13); in another, it is a matter of "hope" (Romans 8:24-25). Our Head primarily wore the "breastplate of righteousness" and "helmet of salvation," that we might, by union with Him, receive both.
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Song of Solomon 4:5
Song of Solomon 8:10
Isaiah 59:17
Ephesians 6:14
Ephesians 6:17
1 Thessalonians 1:3
1 Thessalonians 5:7
1 Thessalonians 5:9
1 Timothy 3:2
Titus 2:11
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