2 Therefore vTroToujaopivoi, subordinate, not vTroc-xoveTs, is said in their case. —ED.
And the mentioning of the bath [Xwrpti, washing] and the word is presently urged conjointly, although the word is to be referred to the term cleansing}- The cleansing power is in the wordy 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. — roD Xovrpfi rou vdarog Iv pjjpari, by the washing with water [lit. the bath of water] by the word) A remarkable testi mony for baptism; Tit. iii. 5. — sv py/uan, in [by] the word) Baptism has the power of purifying owing to the word, John xv. 3 ; in [by] to be construed with cleansing. "i»N, ftpa.
27. "iva KapaGrriffp, that He might present) This holds good, in its own way, already of the present life ; comp. ch. iv. 13. — eavru, to Himself) as to a Husband betrothed. — svdo^ov, a glorious Church) We should derive [draw] our estimate of sanc- tification from the love of Christ : what bride despises the orna ments offered by her husband? — njv) that [the: emphatically] Church which answers to His own eternal idea. — ff^Xov) a spot, from any wicked disposition whatever. — pvrida) wrinkle, from old age [senile debility and decay]. — 7i/a r) tJiat she may be. — aftu/tog, without blemish) Cant. iv. 7.
28. 'Eavrbv, himself) ver. 29, 31, at the end.
29. Ou5e/g) TIC man, unless indeed he revolts from nature and from himself. — rrtv saurov tfdpxa, his own flesh) ver. 31, at the end. — exrpepei) very much nourishes it, within. — $aXT£/) cherishes it, without. The same word occurs in Deut. xxii. 6 ; Job xxxix. 14 ; 1 Kings i. 2, 4. This has respect to clothing, as nourishes has to food. — rqv eKxXqffiavy the Church) Nourishes and cherishes to be supplied.
30. "Or/, because) The reason why the Lord nourishes and cherishes the Church, is the very close relationship, which is here expressed in the words of Moses regarding Eve, accommo dated to the present subject. The Church is propagated from Christ, as Eve was from Adam ; and this propagation is the foundation of the spiritual marriage : for this cause, ver. 31. — rot owparog avrov, of His body) The body here does not mean the Church, which is contained in the subject, we are, but the body of Christ Himself. — IK, of) Gen. ii. 23, 24, in the LXX.—
follows xotQ#piff»£, not 'hwrpw. — ED.