Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Ephesians 5:26

"that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word," — Ephesians 5:26 (ASV)

In vv.26–27 Paul explains more fully the aim of Christ’s atonement for the church. It was “to make her holy” and “to present her to himself as a radiant church” (v.27). “To make holy” (GK 39) is to set apart; by his death on the cross, Christ intended to separate for himself a people for his own possession. From the beginning the church has been called out in this way, but the ethical demands of such privilege require a response in every age.

If the church is to attain the actual holiness that alone befits her status as the bride of Christ, then “cleansing” (GK 2751) is essential. A need for such cleansing before the church begins to be holy clearly indicates that Paul’s concept of holiness involves an immediate subjective change. While cleansing may assume a logical priority, however, the process is really simultaneous.

This essential cleansing is effected “by the washing [GK 3373] of water,” which is said to be accompanied by a spoken word. The term “washing” emphasizes the action of bathing, not the bath itself. Beyond doubt the reference here is to baptism, thus being equivalent to “the washing of rebirth” in Tit 3:5. There is, however, no hint of any mechanical view of the sacrament, as if the mere application of water could in itself bring about the purification it symbolizes. Nowhere does the NT countenance baptismal regeneration in an ex opere operato sense.

What is “the word” that accompanies baptism? It is likely the formula used at the moment of baptism. In principle, this word was trinitarian in shape (Matthew 28:19), but on occasion it simply invoked the all-sufficient name of Jesus. Possibly the candidate for baptism confessed faith in Christ and called on the Savior’s name as he or she was being baptized.