Ephesians 6:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Paul wishes the Ephesians peace and love with faith. He did not speak in this way without purpose. He wants them not merely to hold the word of love, but to do so with understanding, and not to mingle with those of another faith. Either this is what he has in mind, or that they should hold the faith, so as to encourage themselves by hope for the future. “Peace with God and love.” If there is peace, there will also be love. Conversely, where there is love, peace will appear. “With faith.” There is no benefit from love without faith. Better said, without faith love cannot exist at all.

He asks peace and love with faith for them. This means one of two things: either that they should love not those of another confession, but only the faithful, or that they must have faith in order to have hope concerning the future. Without faith love is useless. More than this, without faith there would be no love. This is what he said in the words, “peace and love with faith.” Teaching how peace will exist, he added, “through love.” And how will love exist? If we have faith.

If there are any other gifts bestowed by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, peace occupies no small place among them. For it surpasses every sense and guards the hearts and minds of the saints. It is a certain clarity and tranquility of a peaceful soul, removing it from every anxiety and disturbance. Love with faith is like this peace, and it too is bestowed by God the Father and the Son. Thus we may love God with the whole heart, love our neighbors as ourselves, and pray for our enemies. Such peace and such love, which the Apostle prayerfully sends to believers, belong only to those who deserve to be called by the name of brethren. For he says, peace to the brethren, and love with faith and peace. Therefore both love and faith are bestowed by the Father as well as by the Son. Let the heresy be silent which refuses to acknowledge that the Son can do the same things as the Father.

Paul prays that peace, the doorway of love, may abide with the brethren, and also love and faith. Entering through peace, they are to remain in the love that comes from faith. Faith is from God the Father and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

He placed peace first, but added love, showing that the latter produces the former. He also joined faith to love, prescribing love according to the law of the Gospel. He also indicated their Giver, not only God and the Father, but also the Lord Jesus Christ, and with Them the All-Holy Spirit. For he added:

The concluding part of the epistle is a prayer. Paul prays and wishes the brethren peace, then love, and finally faith. For above he had spoken of the discord among them. Then he adds thanksgiving for those who stand for the faith and love our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus everything comes to its conclusion: discord to peace, love to concord, faith to God. By adding "loving incorruptibly," Paul means that his prayers concern not only the present life, but also the future life, which abides in hope and promise.

At the conclusion of his epistle, the Apostle first asks for prayers for himself, “that a word may be given to him, that he may openly and boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel.” Second. He speaks of the embassy of Tychicus to the Ephesians, so that he may tell them “about his circumstances and deeds,” and thereby comfort their hearts. Finally, he sends peace, love, and grace to the brethren, with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ unwaveringly.

At the close of the Epistle, the Apostle expresses peace to all the brethren, a wish for peace, faith, and love. To those who have wholly surrendered themselves to Christ, he imparts mystical grace, according to the gift of his apostleship.

Concerning these final words, blessed Theodoret says: "He placed peace first, but added love, showing that the latter produces the former. He joined faith with love, prescribing love according to the law of the Gospel. He also indicated their Giver, not only God the Father, but also the Lord Jesus Christ, and with Them the All-Holy Spirit, for he added grace. Grace is not given to all without condition, but to those who love the Lord. Even to them it is not given without condition, but to those who, with love, keep His life-giving laws."

"Let us also keep these laws of incorruption, and burn with love for the Lord, that we may become partakers of the apostolic blessing, by the grace of Christ who saved us." Amen.

Then, by recommending his authorized representative Tychicus, and by a blessing especially for those who cherish an incorruptible (έν αφθαρσία) love for Christ, the Apostle concludes his epistle (vv. 21-24).

These are purely moral good wishes, flowing from the spirit of faith in Christ. Peace to the brethren, that all may live among themselves in concord, without any disturbances. Love, that they may not live in peace only outwardly, but have a heartfelt union among themselves in love. Where there is love, peace is certainly already present, and a firm peace which nothing earthly can disturb. Let love be sanctified by faith. "There is no benefit from love without faith. Or rather, without faith love cannot exist at all" (St. Chrysostom). Here there is also a command: let love be no other than love in the spirit of faith. There is also a warning, lest love lead to the violation of faith.