1 Thessalonians 5:5

for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness;

These Johannine metaphors were known and used by all of the apostles. The uses of "sons" in such a metaphor "indicate close connection or a resemblance, and are a Hebrew idiom."[13] Thus, `Son of God' identified Jesus Christ as having the same nature of God and as existing on an equality with God.

Sons of the day ... means nearly the same as "sons of light," except, as Morris said, "It refers back to 'the day of the Lord,' with all that that means in terms of participation in the triumph of that great day."[14]

Note too that Paul first stated the positive truth of their being sons of light, and sons of day, and then in the negative opposites of being not of the night or of darkness.

[13] Peter E. Cousins, op. cit., p. 496.

[14] Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 93.