or having that promise as its ground. The latter interpretation (which is pre- ferred by Meyer, etc.) is thought to be most in harmony with Rom. x. 8, 17; Eph. vi. 17; Heb. vi. 5, and it gives a good sense however the ἐν is construed. The main objection urged against these two interpretations is the absence of the article, and the fact that where ῥῆμα has such a sense it is accompanied by some defining term, Θεοῦ (Eph. vi. 17), Χριστοῦ (Rom. x. 17) orthe like. To this the only reply is that the omission of the article is due to the presence of the preposition (Middleton, Gr. Artic., vi. 1; cf. Ell. in loc.), or that ῥῆμα may have become, like γόμος, χάρις, etc., so well-understood and constant a term in the sense of ‘the spoken word” par excellence, that it could dispense with the article (Mey.). Thus the import of the whole verse will be—‘ that he might set apart and conse- crate the Church by cleansing it of guilt by baptism in accordance with the Divine promise ” (or, ‘‘on the ground of the preached word of the Gospel”). The clause defines the καθαρισμός as one that does not take effect by means of the λουτρὸν τοῦ ὕδατος in and by itself, but by that only as administered in the power or on the ground of the preached Word. It is to be observed also that the sanctify- ing and the purifying are referred to Christ’s giving up of Himself, His death being that in virtue of which these things take place.
Ver.27. ἵνα παραστήση αὐτὴν [αὐτὸς] ἑαυτῷ ἔνδοξον τὴν ἐκκλησίαν : that He might Himself present to Himseif the Church, glorious. Statement of the re- mote, ultimate object with which Christ ‘‘gave Himself up” to death; as the im- mediate object, which has that final pur- pose in view, is expressed by the ἁγιάσῃ. For αὐτήν of the TR, supported by D*K, most cursives, Syr,-P., etc., the reading αὐτός is to be substituted on the authority of BNSAD*GL, Syr.-Harc., Vulg., etc. It is Christ Himself who is to present the Church, and itis to Himself He is to pre- sent it. He is at once the Agent and the End or Object of the presentation, The
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