Ephesians 1:15

“Wherefore I also, &c.] As well as others: after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus; who is the immediate object of faith, and a very proper and suitable one; having every thing in him that is agreeable to the case and circumstances of those that trust in him. And the grace of faith, which terminates on him, is a seeing him, a beholding the glory of his person, and the fulness of his grace; a going to him, and venturing on him; a laying hold upon him, and embracing of him; a committing all unto him, and a leaning and depending on him, and a living upon him, and a walking on in him. And love unto all the saints: whether Jew or Gentile, rich or poor, greater or lesser believers, of meaner…”

“Wherefore--because ye are in Christ and sealed by His Spirit (Eph 1:13-14). I also--on my part, in return for God's so great benefits to you. after I heard--ever since I have heard. Not implying that he had only heard of their conversion: an erroneous argument used by some against the address of this Epistle to the Ephesians (see on Eph 1:1); but referring to the report he had heard since he was with them, as to their Christian graces. So in the case of Philemon, his "beloved fellow laborer" (Plm 1:1), he uses the same words (Plm 1:4-5). your faith--rather, as Greek, "the faith among you," that is, which many (not all) of you have. love unto all the saints--of whatever name, simply because…”

“Wherefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus - This is one of the passages usually relied on by those who suppose that this Epistle was not written to the Ephesians. The argument is, that he writes to them as if they were strangers to him, and that it is not language such as would be used in addressing a people among whom he had spent three years; see the introduction, section 5. But this inference is not conclusive. Paul had been some years absent from Ephesus when this Epistle was written. In the difficult communication in those times between distant places, it is not to be supposed that he would hear often from them. Perhaps he had heard nothing after the time when he…”

“Since I heard of your faith and love - That is, of their perseverance and increase therein. Ephesians 1:16”

“1:15-23 Paul prays that his readers may have the spiritual understanding to grasp the full significance of God’s gifts (1:3-14). 1:15 Paul links faith in Christ with love for God’s people. Personal faith in Christ brings salvation, and salvation is expressed, above all, by a life of love (see Gal 5:6; Col 1:4; 1 Thes 1:3; 3:6; 5:8; 2 Thes 1:3; 1 Tim 1:14; 2:15; Titus 2:2).”

“after: Col 1:3, Col 1:4; Plm 1:5 faith: Gal 5:6; Th1 1:3; Th2 1:3; Ti1 1:5, Ti1 1:14 love: Psa 16:3; Col 1:4; Th1 4:9; Heb 6:10; Pe1 1:22; Jo1 3:17, Jo1 4:21 Ephesians 1:16”