Verse:
Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify (sanctify / hagiazo) and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Commentary by Adam Clarke
That he might sanctify and cleanse it With the washing of water
The Church is represented as the spouse of Christ, as the woman is the spouse of the man; and, to prepare this Church for himself, he washes, cleanses, and sanctifies it. There is certainly an allusion here to the ancient method of purifying women, who were appointed to be consorts to kings; twelve months, it appears, were in some instances spent in this purification: Six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours and with other things, for the purifying of women. See the case of Esther, Esther 2:12; see also Psalms 45:13,14; ; Ezekiel 16:7-14.
Esther 2:12 Psalms 45:13,14
12 Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Ezekiel 16:7-14
13 All glorious is the princess within her chamber ;
her gown is interwoven with gold.
14 In embroidered garments she is led to the king;
her virgin companions follow her
and are brought to you.
7 I made you grow like a plant of the field. You grew up and developed and became the most beautiful of jewels. Your breasts were formed and your hair grew, you who were naked and bare.
8 " 'Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. I gave you my solemn oath and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Sovereign LORD , and you became mine.
9 " 'I bathed you with water and washed the blood from you and put ointments on you.
10 I clothed you with an embroidered dress and put leather sandals on you. I dressed you in fine linen and covered you with costly garments.
11 I adorned you with jewelry: I put bracelets on your arms and a necklace around your neck,
12 and I put a ring on your nose, earrings on your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
13 So you were adorned with gold and silver; your clothes were of fine linen and costly fabric and embroidered cloth. Your food was fine flour, honey and olive oil. You became very beautiful and rose to be a queen.
14 And your fame spread among the nations on account of your beauty, because the splendor I had given you made your beauty perfect, declares the Sovereign LORD .
By the word
Baptism, accompanied by the purifying influences of the Holy Spirit. Source
The doctrine of Christ crucified, through which baptism is administered, sin cancelled, and the soul purified from all unrighteousness; the death of Christ giving efficacy to all.
Commentary by Barnes
That he might sanctify. And cleanse it with the washing of water.
The great object of the Redeemer was to purify and save the church. The meaning here is, that a husband is to manifest similar love towards his wife, and a similar desire that she should be prepared to "walk before him in white." By the word.
In all this there is an allusion, doubtless, to the various methods of purifying and cleansing those who were about to be married, and who were to be united to monarchs as their brides. In some instances this previous preparation continued for twelve months. The means of purification were various, but consisted usually in the use of costly unguents. See Esther 2:12--"Six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of women." Comp. Psalms 45:13,14; Ezekiel 16:7-14. As such a virgin was purified and prepared for her husband by washing and by anointing, so the church is to be prepared for Christ. It is to be made pure and holy. Outwardly there is to be the application of water--the symbol of purity; and within there is to be holiness of heart. See Barnes "2 Corinthians 11:2", where Paul says of the Corinthians, "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." "of water" Titus 3:5
There has been much diversity of opinion respecting the meaning of this. Probably the sense of the expression is, that all this was to be accomplished by the instrumentality of the truth --the word of God. By that truth they were to be sanctified, John 17:17; and in accordance with that the whole work, from the commencement to the dose, was to be accomplished. It was not by external ceremonies, and not by any miraculous power on the heart, but by the faithful application of truth to the heart. Source
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Commentary by Coffman
The measure of love that husbands are commanded to give their wives is that of Christ's love of the church. A love that would die for the beloved! Any submission or subjection that a devoted wife might give to her husband would be more than rewarded and justified by such a love as that. Hendriksen was right when he declared, "More excellent love than this is inconceivable."
That he might sanctify it ...Having cleansed it by the washing of the water with the word ...
The sanctification in view here is the original consecration of the alien sinner to God's service at the time of his conversion. Any notion of the sanctification here meaning any special state of holiness beyond that first and decisive setting apart unto God is incorrect. With the word ...
This is a reference to Christian baptism. "This can scarcely be anything other than baptism; that is what the language would most naturally have conveyed to the original readers." It is hard to say which meaning Paul might have intended here for both are true, in the sense of being appropriate.
is understood in two different ways, some holding that it means baptism in response to "the preaching of the gospel," and others supposing that it refers to the confession "with the mouth" by converts prior to and at the time of their being baptized. This prompted Goodspeed's translation thus:
Just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her, to consecrate her, after cleansing her with the bath in water through her confession of him.
It is difficult to understand why commentators became exercised about this verse, pausing after allowing that the meaning cannot possibly be anything other than Christian baptism, to include a paragraph or so affirming their repudiation of "baptismal regeneration." "Baptismal regeneration" is not a relevant Scriptural question today. As far as this writer knows, nobody in this century has believed anything even remotely resembling the theory of "baptismal regeneration." The teaching of true believers to the effect that a person must believe and be baptized in order to be saved has no connection with baptismal regeneration. Baptismal regeneration theorists believed that "the external application of water, accompanied by the appropriate words, is sufficient to bring about regeneration. Since the Dark Ages, whoever believed a thing like that? On the other hand, regeneration, a work of God, takes place in the sinner at the time of, and when he is baptized. Water baptism is most certainly a precondition of receiving regeneration and forgiveness from God; and ten thousand angels swearing it is not true could not change that; but it is not water which regenerates, it is God who does so when the sinner is baptized. It is very encouraging to see a great Baptist scholar, such as Beasley-Murray, who is willing to admit that such a distinction is valid. He said:If through man's failure to obey the Lord by being baptized that occasion never comes, then neither will newness of life arrive!
Baptism is the occasion when the Spirit brings to new life him that believes in the Son of man
Hendriksen also, after the usual disclaimers regarding "baptismal regeneration," rendered the meaning of this verse thus:Amen! There cannot be any doubt that such is the true meaning here. But the giving of its proper New Testament place to Christian baptism requires no disclaimers. As Lipscomb said, nothing more is attributed to baptism in this passage than in many other New Testament passages, such as:
Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her in order that he might by means of the rite of baptism with water sanctify and cleanse her In connection with this verse see Titus 3:5, and discussion there.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:15,16).
Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, etc. (Acts 2:38).
Arise and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16). Etc.Source
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown
sanctify Source
--that is, consecrate her to God. Compare Joh 17:19, meaning, "I devote Myself as a holy sacrifice, that My disciples also may be devoted or consecrated as holy in (through) the truth" [NEANDER] (Heb 2:11; 10:10; 13:12 see on Heb 10:10). and cleanse
Joh 17:19 Heb 2:11
For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. with the washing of water
--rather, as Greek, "cleansing," without the "and." by the word
--rather as Greek, "with," or "by the laver of the water," namely, the baptismal water. So it ought to be translated in Tit 3:5, the only other passage in the New Testament where it occurs. As the bride passed through a purifying bath before marriage, so the Church (compare Re 21:2). He speaks of baptism according to its high ideal and design, as if the inward grace accompanied the outward rite; hence he asserts of outward baptism whatever is involved in a believing appropriation of the divine truths it symbolizes, and says that Christ, by baptism, has purified the Church [NEANDER] (1Pe 3:21).
Tit 3:5 Re 21:2
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 1Pe 3:21
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also--not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
--Greek, "IN the word." To be joined with "cleansing it," or "her." The "word of faith" (Ro 10:8, 9, 17), of which confession is made in baptism, and which carries the real cleansing (Joh 15:3; 17:17) and regenerating power (1Pe 1:23; 3:21) [ALFORD]. So AUGUSTINE [Tract 80, in John], "Take away the word, and what is the water save water? Add the word to the element, and it becomes a sacrament, being itself as it were the visible word." The regenerating efficacy of baptism is conveyed in, and by, the divine word alone.
Ro 10:8, 9, 17 Joh 15:3
8 But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.1Pe 1:23
3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.
23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
Commentary by John Gill
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water;
Being defiled, both with original sin and actual transgressions; for God's elect, whom Christ loved and espoused from everlasting, fell in Adam with the rest of mankind; and, in their natural state, live in sin as others do; and so are under the guilt, and in the pollution of it, as others be: Christ gave himself for them, that he might deliver them out of this state; he gave himself a sacrifice for them, that he might expiate their sins and make atonement and satisfaction for them; he shed his blood that he might cleanse them from them; and he wrought out a righteousness that he might justify them from all their iniquities; and which being put upon them, makes them to appear pure and spotless in the sight of divine justice; for this sanctifying and cleansing does not so much refer to the inward work of sanctification of the Spirit, though that is a fruit and effect of the death of Christ, and is brought about by the following means, as to the justification of them by the blood and righteousness of Christ: which is said to be, by the word;
not baptism, which is never expressed by washing; nor does it purify or cleanse from sin; nor is it the means of sanctification and regeneration, which ought to be before it; nor the grace of the Spirit, though that is often compared to water, and regeneration and sanctification are owing to it; yet the saints are not so cleansed from sin by it, as to be without spot or wrinkle; but the blood of Christ, which is the fountain to wash in, and which cleanses from all sin: Source
not the form of words in baptism; but either the Gospel, which brings the good news and glad tidings of peace, pardon, atonement, and justification by Christ; or the sentence of justification pronounced upon the conscience by him; see (John 15:2) .
John 15:2
He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
Commentary by John Wesley
That he might sanctify it through the word Having cleansed it
- The ordinary channel of all blessings. By the washing of water
- From the guilt and power of sin. Source
- In baptism; if, with "the outward and visible sign," we receive the "inward and spiritual grace."
Commentary by Matthew Henry
That he might sanctify and cleanse it, with the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26)-- that he might endue all his members with a principle of holiness, and deliver them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin. The instrumental means whereby this is affected are the instituted sacraments, particularly the washing of baptism and the preaching and reception of the gospel
Source
Commentary by Peoples New Testament
26. That he might sanctify it. The great love of Christ for the church, his bride, is shown as an example to Christian husbands. Christ gave himself for the church. His object was to sanctify it, make it holy. In order to do this it was needful to cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. All commentators of repute in all bodies refer this to baptism. All in the church pass through the waters of baptism. But the washing of the water would be of no avail without the word. The power is in the word of the Lord which offers the gospel and commands baptism.
Source
Commentary by Robertsons
That he might sanctify it (ina authn agiashi). Having cleansed it (katarisav).
Purpose clause with ina and the first aorist active subjunctive of agiazw. Jesus stated this as his longing and his prayer (John 17:17-19). This was the purpose of Christ's death (verse Ephesians 5:25). By the washing of water (twi loutrwi tou udatov).
First aorist active participle of katarizw, to cleanse, either simultaneous action or antecedent. Source
If loutron only means bath or bathing-place ( = loutron), then loutrwi is in the locative. If it can mean bathing or washing, it is in the instrumental case. The usual meaning from Homer to the papyri is the bath or bathing-place, though some examples seem to mean bathing or washing. Salmond doubts if there are any clear instances. The only other N.T. example of loutron is in Titus 3:5. The reference here seems to be to the baptismal bath (immersion) of water, "in the bath of water." See 1 Corinthians 6:11 for the bringing together of apelousaste and hgiasthte.
Titus 3:5
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Neither there nor here does Paul mean that the cleansing or sanctification took place in the bath save in a symbolic fashion as in Romans 6:4-6.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. Some think that Paul has also a reference to the bath of the bride before marriage. Still more difficult is the phrase "with the word" (en rhmati). In John 17:17 Jesus connected "truth" with "sanctify." That is possible here, though it may also be connected with katarisav (having cleansed). Some take it to mean the baptismal formula.
Romans 6:4-6
4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--
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Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 10/3/03; 5:48:09 PM