“…the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (I Thes. 5:8)

 

“…the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (I Thes. 5:8)

The breastplate that Paul has in mind was a Roman soldiers lorica segmentata that basically covered the whole chest area, from the neck down to about the top of the thighs, and which protected the wearer’s vital organs. The helmet, too, protected one’s head and might be analogous to the body armor so many police and military outfits wear today.

Paul uses a Roman soldier’s armor as a metaphor to remind Christians that:

A. By being baptized, believing followers, we belong to the army of Christ, yet we must also “put Christ on” – meaning we have a certain responsibility and obligation in being His followers. We are challenged to make the effort and fit into the company of like-minded individuals to work as a team.

B. We have an active, persistent enemy from whom we both, need protection and must do fierce battle with from time to time – Satan

C. And we must glorify God and carry His message and “Light” wherever we go, just at the Romans soldiers’ breastplate and helmet identified him with Rome and glorified it by its symbolism and shiny reflective nature.

Fr. John