“…putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thess. 5:8)

“…putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.” (1 Thess. 5:8)

Paul, in both his letters to the Thessalonians and the Ephesians, likens the spiritual life to the bodily armor he saw the Romans wearing for protection. Thus, Paul intimates that spiritual armor helps one in their efforts to fight temptation and do battle with Satan. So just as a metal breastplate protects the heart and internal organs from injury, and a helmet protects the head, the breastplate of love and helmet of hope help to ward off the injurious evils the devil craftily wields against us. 

Fr. John