9以弗所五章二十五至二十七节实际上是一长句。保罗在这几节说,作丈夫的要爱他们的妻子,正如基督爱召会,为召会舍了自己。祂这样作,为要借着话中之水的洗涤,圣化她、洁净她,好把召会献给自己,作荣耀的召会,没有斑点、皱纹或任何这类的病。基督爱召会,为召会舍了自己,目的是要借着话中之水的洗涤圣化她。圣化是借着洁净,洁净是靠洗涤,洗涤是用水,而水是在话中(以弗所书生命读经,五四八至五四九页)。
9Ephesians 5:25 through 27 is actually one long sentence. In these verses Paul is saying that husbands should love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her. He did this that He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of water in the word, in order that He might present the church to Himself glorious, without spot, wrinkle, or any such things. Christ’s purpose in loving the church and in giving Himself up for the church was to sanctify her by the washing of the water in the word. Sanctifying is by cleansing, cleansing is by washing, washing is by water, and water is in the word. (Life-study of Ephesians, p. 442)