5:5 children of light. Even “children of the light” may become careless in this world and be sleeping when they should be watching. Hence the exhortation to “watch and be sober (I Thessalonians 5:6). We should constantly “abide in Him,” that we not be “ashamed before Him at His coming” (I John 2:28).

5:8 love. Here again is a juxtaposition of faith, hope and love. See note on Colossians 1:4, 5.

5:8 helmet. This introductory suggestion of spiritual armor in the Christian warfare was later greatly amplified in Ephesians 6:11-17. See also Romans 13:12; II Corinthians 6:7.