1 Thessalonians 5:8

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:6-10

On what had been said, the apostle grounds seasonable exhortations to several needful duties. I. To watchfulness and sobriety, 1 Thess. 5:6. These duties are distinct, yet they mutually befriend one another. For, while we are compassed about with so many temptations to intemperance and excess, we shall not keep sober, unless we be upon our guard, and, unless we keep sober, we shall not long watch. 1. Then let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch; we must not be secure and careless, nor... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

5:1-11 You have no need, brothers, that anything should be written to you about the times and seasons; for you yourselves well know that, as a thief in the night, so the day of the Lord comes. When they are saying, "All is well; all is safe," then sudden destruction comes upon them, just as the labour pains come on a woman who is with child, and very certainly they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in the dark. You are not in a situation in which the day, like a thief, can surprise... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober ,.... 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, 1 Samuel 17:5 which was made of iron or brass; and the Ethiopic version here calls it, "the iron coat."... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

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... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Verse 8 8Having put on the breastplate. He adds this, that he may the more effectually shake us out of our stupidity, for he calls us as it were to arms, that he may shew that it is not a time to sleep. It is true that he does not make use of the term war; but when he arms us with a breastplate and a helmet, he admonishes us that we must maintain a warfare. Whoever, therefore, is afraid of being surprised by the enemy, must keep awake, that he may be constantly on watch. As, therefore, he has... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

I. THE TIME OF ITS COMING . 1. There was no real need to write to them about this. St. Paul had spoken of it; it had been a principal subject of his teaching. They knew all that could be known, all that they needed to know for their souls' health. But there was a restless curiosity, an eager longing "to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power." Such knowledge was not for the apostles; it is not for the Church. "Of that day and that hour... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

I. HOW THE DAY OF THE LORD IS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED IN ITS COMING . "But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night." By the same method which is followed in 1 Thessalonians 4:9 , the apostle seeks to impress on the Thessalonians a certain point relating to the times and. the seasons which make up the period of the Lord's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

Now follows a series of short admonitions. The Thessalonians were to love and honor their ministers, to live in peace among themselves, to admonish the disorderly, to encourage the faint-hearted, to support the weak, and to exercise forbearance toward all men. They were to be on their guard against revenge, to preserve Christian joyfulness, to be constant in prayer, and to maintain a thankful disposition. They were not to quench the Spirit, nor despise prophesyings, but were to test all... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

But ; contrast to the conduct of those who are of the night: let us not only be watchful, but armed. The apostle now adopts a favorite figure, that of spiritual armor. The arms which he here mentions are only two—the breastplate to protect the heart, and the helmet to guard the head; they are both defensive weapons, because the reference here is not so much to the believer's conflict with evil, as to his defense against surprise. And by these spiritual weapons are denoted the three cardinal... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Thessalonians 5:8

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. read more

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