Helmet (4030) (perikephalaia from peri = around + kephale = head) means literally around the head or encirclement of the head and thus a helmet. A Roman soldier who lost his helmet was in danger of receiving severe head wounds which would (at the very least) disorient him and render him ineffective and in danger of further injury. Similarly, a Christian who has no assurance of salvation (or has "lost his hope" --see below 1Thes 5:8) cannot be bold in resisting Satan. Roman military helmets were of two types: the galea (made of leather) or the cassis (metal). The helmet had a band to protect the forehead and plates for the cheeks, and extended down in back to protect the neck. When the helmet was strapped in place, it exposed little besides the eyes, nose, and mouth. The metal helmets, due to their weight, were lined with sponge or felt. Virtually the only weapons which could penetrate a metal helmet were hammers or axes. No soldier’s uniform was complete without a proper helmet. A helmet, being hot and uncomfortable, would be put on by a soldier only when he faced impending danger. A Roman soldier would be foolish to enter a battle without his helmet. He knew that the helmet would protect his head from arrows, but that it's primary function was to ward off blows from the enemy's broadsword (not the small dagger, the machaira, mentioned in Eph 6:17) but the broadsword, which was from three to four-feet long. with a massive handle that was held with both hands like a baseball bat. The soldier lifted it over his head and brought it down on his opponent’s head. The broadsword was a vicious weapon that could deal a crushing blow to the skull. The helmet on one's head was the only way to deflect it. An archaeological dig discovered a skeleton with a cleavage right through the skull. Although it is only conjecture, it is quite likely that this fatal would was made by someone who attacked the person with a broadsword. Beloved, please do not leave home today without your helmet. In fact, don't ever take it off. Not even when you go to sleep (it's a good thing we are speaking in spiritual terms!) because the helmet of salvation is part of the full armor and not an accessory to be added later or from time to time as needed. John MacArthur illustrates how the enemy attacks our heads... The Roman soldier had to defend himself against a broadsword. Satan’s broadsword has two sides to it: discouragement and doubt. Satan wants to belt you in the head with discouragement and doubt. His attacks of discouragement might go like this: “You sure are giving a lot and not getting much in return. You’re circumscribing your life to a certain standard and setting yourself apart from the world. But what happens? You just lost your job! Some blessing! You’ve been reading your Bible every day, but your wife is as cranky as she was before you bought it, and it hasn’t had any effect on her. What is God doing in your life? You’ve been going to church for years, but look at your kids. They don’t respect you today anymore than they ever did.” That would discourage anyone. You might have been teaching a class for a long time, yet wonder if anyone is getting anything out of it. That could discourage you. Satan also wants to hit you in the head with doubt: “How do you know you’re a Christian? Are you sure you’re saved? You certainly don’t deserve to be; look what you just did! Do you think that’s what a Christian does?” Many people suffer from doubt and discouragement, but the helmet of salvation is our protection. (MacArthur, J.. The Believer's Armor. Chicago: Moody Press 1986) Perikephalaia is used 10 times in the Septuagint (LXX) (1Sa 17:5, 38, 49; 2Chr 26:14; Isa. 59:17; Jer. 46:4; Ezek. 27:10; 38:4-5). In the NT it is found only here and in 1Th 5:8 (note). The three witnesses to the believer concerning assurance are (1) the witness of the Holy Word (1Jn 5:13), (2) the witness of the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:16-note 1Jn 5:10), (3) the witness of good works as a result, not a cause, of salvation (Mt 5:16-note; 1Jn 2:3, 4, 5). Vincent writes that... The helmet was originally of skin, strengthened with bronze or other metal, and surmounted with a figure adorned with a horsehair crest. It was furnished with a visor to protect the face. (Vincent, M. R. Word Studies in the New Testament 3:410) The helmet of salvation protects our mind and thus protects against discouragement, doubt, desire to give up, etc, and applying the figure brought out in 1Th 5:8 (note) (below) gives us hope not only in knowing that we are saved (justified by faith - past tense salvation), but that we will be saved daily (sanctification - present tense salvation) and in the future (glorification - future tense salvation - see related topic Three Tenses of Salvation). It is the assurance that God will triumph. One of Satan’s most effective weapons against us is discouragement. When we are properly equipped with the helmet of salvation, it’s hard to stay discouraged. In 1Thessalonians 5 Paul describes believers as sons of light and sons of day not of night nor of darkness (1Thes 5:5) and as such he explains that we are to be like soldiers on sentry duty at night, and we are not to fall asleep on our post. Paul exhorts us writing... but since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on (like a new garment - enduo) the breastplate of faith (see notes on faith) and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing. (1Th 5:8, 9, 10, 11) Comment on 1Thessalonians 5:8 - see note: In this section Paul is saying that if you do the deeds of darkness as a day person, you are behaving contrary to your nature [sons of light and sons of day] and are violating your new identity in Christ as children of light. Paul is saying that our behavior should correspond with our nature. He calls on believers to live soberly, not drunk with the intoxications of the world and thus numbed to spiritual truths which are eternal. And when we are sober, we are more alert and watchful and less likely of being drawn or enticed into doing deeds of darkness. Regarding the deeds of darkness, remember that, night people can only do night deeds. They are not and cannot be day people nor can they do the deeds of the day. On the other hand those who are sons of light and sons of day sadly can do the deeds of the night, tracking back to their old patterns of conduct. Sons of day now have the power to not do the deeds of darkness, but we can still carry out the deeds of darkness. The sad reality is that when day people commit acts of darkness, they do these deeds in broad daylight so to speak, because they have full understanding of their sinful nature and do them in full exposure of this light. In this section, Paul is calling for our behavior to be consistent with our new nature. How is love like a breastplate, defending us from the deeds of darkness and world forces of darkness? Jesus helps us understand when He declared that "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (Jn 14:15) In a sense, all sin reflects a failure to love God, as the delight of one's heart, as the supreme Object of one's affection. Whoever is the supreme object of one's affection is going to control how one behaves and lives. It follows that when we sin what we are saying in essence is "Father, You are not the supreme object of my affection. I am! And so I am going to do whatever pleases me, whatever makes me feel good. That attitude is a description of the garment of the old man or old self we once were. Selfish to the very core. Paul says the breastplate of love is part of the wardrobe of the new man or new self. And when we wear this garment, we will demonstrate the sincerity of our love by our unhesitating obedience. In Romans 13:10 Paul writes that love is the fulfillment of the law. In the present discussion this means that believers don't need a law that says don't make graven images, because if we love God supremely, we are not going to make graven images and thus we "fulfill the law". Whenever we sin we have failed to love God because we show that we love ourselves more and wanted to fulfill ourselves. And so faith and love are like a breastplate for sons of light and sons of day because when we trust in God and we love Him supremely, obedience will be our heart's desire and it will serve to defend us from the fiery missiles of doubt, temptation and fear. Regarding the believer's helmet, the hope of salvation Paul is not saying that we have a hope that at last we will be saved. Believers can know today they are saved forever and are certain of spending eternity with God. Hope is not used in Scripture like the world uses it -- I hope I will be saved. In contrast, hope speaks of an absolute assurance that God will do good to me in the future. This hope in Scripture speaks especially of the return of Christ, our Blessed Hope. And so this helmet, the hope of salvation fends off some of Satan’s most fierce and powerful blows directed at the believer’s eternal security. Therefore Paul encourages believers to have confidence in the salvation they already possess. Paul knew that doubting their security in Christ would render them ineffective in spiritual warfare, just as a blow to the soldier's head would render his physical body incapable of defending itself. Discouragement and doubt are deflected when you know you’re secure in Christ. Amen!) The Church’s One Foundation Samuel Stone Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, She waits the consummation of peace for evermore; Till, with the vision glorious, her longing eyes are blest, And the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.