Commentaries:
Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
he—The oldest manuscripts and authorities read, "That He might Himself present unto Himself the Church glorious," namely, as a bride (II Corinthians 11:2). 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 presentation to Himself, as the Bridegroom at His coming again (Matthew 25:1, etc.; Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:2).
not having spot— (Song of Solomon 4:7). The visible Church now contains clean and unclean together, like Noah's ark; like the wedding room which contained some that had, and others that had not, the wedding garment (Matthew 22:10-14; compare II Timothy 2:20); or as the good and bad fish are taken in the same net because it cannot discern the bad from the good, the fishermen being unable to know what kind of fish the nets have taken under the waves. Still the Church is termed "holy" in the creed, in reference to her ideal and ultimate destination. When the Bridegroom comes, the bride shall be presented to Him wholly without spot, the evil being cut off from the body for ever (Matthew 13:47-50). Not that there are two churches, one with bad and good intermingled, another in which there are good alone; but one and the same Church in relation to different times, now with good and evil together, hereafter with good alone [PEARSON].
Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Ephesians 5:27:
Psalms 45:1
Song of Solomon 4:7
Matthew 1:21
1 Corinthians 6:17
1 Corinthians 7:2
2 Corinthians 11:2
Ephesians 1:4
Ephesians 5:22
Ephesians 5:30
Colossians 1:22
Colossians 1:22
Colossians 3:19
1 Timothy 6:14
Revelation 3:4
Revelation 7:15
Revelation 14:4
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