Philemon 1:5

Hearing of thy love, and of the faith … saints. He would hear of these instances of Philemon's faith and love naturally through Epaphras (see on Philemon 1:2 ). Refer "faith" to "the Lord Jesus" and "love" to "all the saints" (a chiasmus , or cross-reference). Note that the phrase is πρὸς ( i.e. erga , towards) τὸν κύριον , but εἰς ( i.e. upon) τοὺς ἁγίους ; perhaps because Christ cannot now be reached by bodily efforts, but only aspired towards by the soul; while the poor can actually be reached and ministered unto. "Ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always" ( Matthew 26:11 ). All Christians are called "saints" in the Scriptures, as Ephesians 1:1 , and invariably. What a reminder to them of their " holy calling " ( 2 Timothy 1:9 )! Meyer notes, however, that it is not uncommon with St. Paul to vary the preposition ( Romans 3:20 ; Galatians 2:16 ).