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Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Some people show their faith in everything they do.<\/p>\n The words \u201cafter I heard<\/span>\u201d are translated from the verb akou\u014d<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cto hear.\u201d It is expressed here as an aorist participle, so it literally says, \u201chaving heard.\u201d<\/p>\n The expression \u201cof your faith<\/span>\u201d is translated from t\u0113n kath humas pistin<\/em><\/span>. The word t\u0113n<\/em><\/span> is the definite article (the). The word kath<\/em><\/span> (from kata<\/em><\/span>), meaning \u201cdown\u201d or \u201camong.\u201d Humas<\/em><\/span> is the second person plural pronoun (you-plural). And pistin<\/em><\/span> is from pistis<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201cfaith\u201d or \u201cmoral conviction.\u201d So, literally this phrase reads \u201cthe among you faith.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSaints<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word hagios<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from hagos<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201csomething which inspires awe.\u201d Hagios<\/em><\/span> refers to something which has been set apart from common usage to be used for God\u2019s glory. It is often translated as \u201choly, sanctified, or consecrated.\u201d Here it refers to someone who has become a Christian. As a result of our salvation, we are set-apart by God and are, therefore, referred to as saints. Therefore, all Christians are saints, not just those who have been declared so by a church organization.<\/p>\n The word \u201clove<\/span>\u201d does not appear in some of the best Greek texts and probably should be omitted.<\/p>\n This verse has been used by some to try to prove that Paul did not write this letter specifically to the Christians in Ephesus. As we discussed in verse one of this chapter, the words \u201cwho are in Ephesus<\/span>\u201d are omitted from verse one in two key Greek manuscripts. Some scholars try to use that fact and Paul\u2019s comments in this verse to prove that this letter was written as a general epistle for a number of different churches, not specifically for the Ephesians. Their contention is, since Paul spent three years in Ephesus, he certainly knew of their faith in the Lord and would not have said, \u201cafter I heard of your faith in the Lord.<\/span>\u201d<\/p>\n On the other side of the argument, however, there is overwhelming manuscript evidence that the words \u201cwho are in Ephesus<\/span>\u201d were originally included in the opening verse of this letter. Therefore, there must be a different reason why Paul says that he \u201cheard of\u201d the faith of the Ephesians. As we saw in \u201cBehind the Words,\u201d a literal translation of this expression is \u201cthe among you faith.\u201d In other words, Paul has heard of the faith among the people in the Ephesian church. Now that shouldn\u2019t be too surprising since this letter was written about five years after he left Ephesus and there had been many others come to faith in the church during that period of time. And, since the word \u201clove<\/span>\u201d does not appear to be part of this verse as Paul originally wrote it, it should read<\/p>\n Therefore I also, having heard of the faith of those among you in the Lord Jesus, which you show toward all the saints<\/span>,<\/p>\n It\u2019s because of that faith, demonstrated by the Ephesian Christians and visible to others, that Paul is thankful.<\/p>\n Do you know Christians like that? People whose faith is so strong and obvious in everything they do? Have you thanked God for them? Have you thanked them for their example?<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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