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Eph 5:26. Ἁγιάσῃ, might sanctify) Often holiness and glory are synonymous; wherefore here also follows, He might present it to Himself a glorious Church.-καθαρίσας, cleansing) Cleansing precedes the bestowal of glory and the formation of the nuptial tie.-ἵνα, that) The construction is, He gave Himself-cleansing (i.e. and cleansed); that [ἵνα] depends upon both [παρέδωκεν and καθαρίσας], being put twice [ἵνα ἁγιάσῃ and ἵνα παραστήσῃ Eph 5:26, and Eph 5:27] in the text. Sanctification is derived from the death or blood of Christ; comp. Heb 13:12 : cleansing or purification, as we shall see presently, from baptism and the word. Holiness is internal glory; glory is holiness shining forth. Why did Christ love the Church and give Himself for it?-that He might sanctify it. Why did He cleanse it?-that He might present it to Himself. The former is the new right acquired by Christ over the Church; the latter shows how He adorned His bride, as befitted such a bride of such a Husband. And the mentioning of the bath [λουτρῷ, washing] and the word is presently urged conjointly, although the word is to be referred to the term cleansing.[91] The cleansing power is in the word, and it is put forth through the bath [the washing]. Water and the bath are the vehicle: but the word is a nobler instrumental cause.-τῷ λουτρῷ τοῦ ὕδατος ἐν ῥήματι, by the washing with water [lit. the bath of water] by the word) A remarkable testimony for baptism; Tit 3:5.-ἐν ῥήματι, in [by] the word) Baptism has the power of purifying owing to the word, Joh 15:3; in [by] to be construed with cleansing. אֹמֶר, ῥῆμα.
[91] ἐν ῥήματι follows καθαρίσας, not λουτρῷ.-ED.