Ephesians 5:27

that he In the Gr. "He" is emphatic; "He to Himself;" with stress on the Lord's personal action.

present Cp. for similar use of the same Gr. word 2 Corinthians 4:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Colossians 1:22; Colossians 1:28. In Jude 1:24 a similar word is used. The thought is of the heavenly Bridegroom welcoming the glorified Bride at the Marriage Feast hereafter. True, she is now "His Spouse and His Body;" but the manifestation then will be such as to be, in a sense, the Marriage as the sequel to the Betrothal. The words "present to Himself" suggest that the Bride is not only to be welcomed then by her Lord, but welcomed as owing all her glory to His work, and as being now absolutely His own.

a glorious church Translate rather, the Church arrayed in glory. Cp. Revelation 19:7-8. And see Song of Solomon 4:7. She "shall be like Him, for she shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). He who gave Himself for her had also given Himself to her, and His nature shall now be manifested in her eternal state.

holy Absolutely, without qualification, and for ever, consecrated to Him.

without blemish The Gr. is cognate to that in Song of Solomon 4:7 ("there is no blemishin thee"). The holy and perfect principle, perfect at length in all the conditions of its working, shall come out in actual perfection of spiritual beauty. Cp. for the same Gr. word, Ephesians 1:4 (side by side there also with "holy"); Philippians 2:15; Colossians 1:22; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19; Jude 1:24; Revelation 14:5.