John Calvin Commentary Ephesians 1:15

"For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which [ye show] toward all the saints," — Ephesians 1:15 (ASV)

Wherefore I also. This thanksgiving was not simply an expression of his ardent love to the Ephesians. He congratulated them before God that the opinion he had formed about them was highly favorable.

Observe here, that under faith and love Paul generally includes the whole excellence of Christian character. He uses the expression, faith in the Lord Jesus, because Christ is the aim and object of faith. Love ought to embrace all people, but here the saints are particularly mentioned; because love, when properly regulated, begins with them and is afterwards extended to all others. If our love must be directed toward God, the closer anyone approaches God, the stronger unquestionably must be their claim to our love.