1 Peter 1:8

“Whom having not seen, ye love, etc.] That is, Jesus Christ, whom they had never seen with their bodily eyes, being Jews, who dwelt not in Judea, when Christ was upon earth, but were scattered about in several parts of the Gentile world; and yet Christ being made known to them, through the preaching of the Gospel, they received and embraced him, and their affections were strongly set upon him: they loved him because of his excellencies and perfections, because of the loveliness of his person, and because he first loved them; they loved him because of the fulness of grace that was in him, because of what he had done for them, and was unto them, and because of the offices he sustained on their…”

“not having seen, ye love--though in other cases it is knowledge of the person that produces love to him. They are more "blessed that have not seen and yet have believed," than they who believed because they have seen. On Peter's own love to Jesus, compare Joh 21:15-17. Though the apostles had seen Him, they now ceased to know Him merely after the flesh. in whom--connected with "believing": the result of which is "ye rejoice" (Greek, "exult"). now--in the present state, as contrasted with the future state when believers "shall see His face." unspeakable-- (Co1 2:9). full of glory--Greek, "glorified." A joy now already encompassed with glory. The "glory" is partly in present possession,…”

“Whom having not seen, ye love - This Epistle was addressed to those who were “strangers scattered abroad,” (See the notes at 1 Peter 1:1) and it is evident that they had not personally seen the Lord Jesus. Yet they had heard of his character, his preaching, his sacrifice for sin, and his resurrection and ascension, and they had learned to love him: (1) It is possible to love one whom we have not seen. Thus, we may love God, whom no “eye hath seen,” (compare 1 John 4:20) and thus we may love a benefactor, from whom we have received important benefits, whom we have never beheld. (2) We may love the character of one whom we have never seen, and from whom we may never have received any…”

“Having not seen - In the flesh. 1 Peter 1:9”

“having: Joh 20:29; Co2 4:18, Co2 5:7; Heb 11:1, Heb 11:27; Jo1 4:20 ye love: Pe1 2:7; Sol 1:7, Sol 5:9, Sol 5:16; Mat 10:37, Mat 25:35-40; Joh 8:42, Joh 14:15, Joh 14:21, Joh 14:24; Joh 21:15-17; Co1 16:22; Co2 5:14, Co2 5:15; Gal 5:6; Eph 6:24; Jo1 4:19 believing: Pe1 1:6; Hab 3:17, Hab 3:18; Act 16:34; Rom 14:17, Rom 15:13; Phi 1:25, Phi 3:3, Phi 4:4 unspeakable: Joh 16:22; Co2 9:15, Co2 12:4 full: Pe1 5:4; Co2 1:22; Gal 5:22; Eph 1:13, Eph 1:14 1 Peter 1:9”