That he might present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.The absolute perfection of the church is prophesied here; but the manner of achieving this is left out of sight. It is revealed by Paul in Colossians 1:28. See comment under that verse. Also see article on "Perfection of Christians," under Ephesians 1:4. read more
Ephesians 5:27. That he might present it to himself— The Alexandrian and other copies read, That he himself might present to himself the church, glorious, without spot, &c. The Apostle, to recommend to husbands love and tenderness toward their wives, in imitation of Christ's affection to the church, shews, that whereas other brides take care to embellish and set off their persons, in order to recommend themselves to their bridegrooms, Christ himself, at the expence of his own pains and... read more
27. he—The oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "That He might Himself present unto Himself the Church glorious," namely, as a bride ( :-). Holiness and glory are inseparable. "Cleansing" is the necessary preliminary to both. Holiness is glory internal; glory is holiness shining forth outwardly. The laver of baptism is the vehicle, but the word is the nobler and true instrument of the cleansing [BENGEL]. It is Christ that prepares the Church with the necessary ornaments of grace, for... read more
The duty of husbands 5:25-33 read more
What was Jesus Christ’s ultimate purpose in giving Himself for the church (Ephesians 5:25)? It was to present her to Himself in all her glory finally, namely, without any blemishes, effects of sin (wrinkles), or anything that would diminish her glory. Positively God will eventually present the church to His Son as exclusively His and spotless (cf. Ephesians 1:4). This will happen at the Rapture when all Christians will experience full sanctification (i.e., glorification) and will join our Lord... read more
The old Darkness and new Light. Rules for the Married1, 2. In close connexion with what precedes. ’It is the mark of beloved children to become imitators of a loving Father; practise the self-sacrifice of Christ, which shows how He loved us and the Father.’3-14. Special exhortation against covetousness and impurity.3. But] The five sins mentioned in Ephesians 4:25-32 are to be put away; these two are not even to be mentioned: ’saints’ are set apart from such subjects, being consecrated to God.... read more
[5.Practical Exhortation continued (Ephesians 5:22 to Ephesians 6:9).(4)THE BEARING OF THE TRUTH OF UNITY ON THE THREE GREAT RELATIONS OF LIFE.(a)Between husbands and wives—a relation which is a type of the unity between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:22-33).(b) Between parents and children—a relation hallowed as existing “in the Lord” (Ephesians 6:1-4).(c)Between masters and servants—a relation softened and deepened by common service to the one Master (Ephesians 6:5-9).] read more
(25-27) In these verses we trace, under the nuptial metaphor, a clear description of the three great stages in salvation—justification in His “giving Himself for us, sanctification in the “cleansing by water in the Word,” glorification in the final “presentation” to Christ in glory. The metaphor is certainly preserved in the last two clauses, which correspond to the bath of purification of the bride, and the festal presentation of her (usually by the friend of the bridegroom, John 3:29), in all... read more
(27) That he might present it to himself.—The original is more emphatic—that He might Himself present it to Himself. This presentation belonged usually to the “paranymph,” or “friend of the bridegroom, to whom St. John Baptist compares himself in John 3:29 (where see Note); St. Paul himself assumes that office in 2 Corinthians 11:2, “I have espoused (or rather, betrothed) you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” Here, however, all is of Christ. He, as Paranymph,... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 5:27
present . Greek. paristemi . See Romans 12:1 . it . The texts read Greek. autos = Himself. glorious . Greek. endoxos. Elsewhere, Luke 7:25 ; Luk 13:17 . 1 Corinthians 4:10 . spot = blemish. Greek. spilos ; only here and 2 Peter 2:13 wrinkle . Only here. should = may. without blemish = faultless. Greek. amomos. See Ephesians 1:4 . read more