SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:32
Este misterio grande es; acerca de Cristo y la Iglesia.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Ephesians 5:32
Verse 32. This is a great mystery] to musthrion touto mega estin? This mystery is great. Sacramentum hoc magnum est; this sacrament is great. - VULGATE. And on the evidence of this version the Church of Rome has made matrimony a sacrament, which, as they use it, is no meaning of the original. By mystery, here, we may understand a natural thing by which some spiritual matter is signified, which signification the Spirit of God alone can give. So, here, the creation and union of Adam and Eve, were intended, in the design of God, to point out the union of Christ and the Church: a union the most important that can be conceived; and therefore the apostle calls it a great mystery. See the observations at the end of this chapter.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 32. This is a great mystery , &c.] It has something mysterious in it; it is a figure and emblem of the mysterious union between Christ and his people: for so it follows, but I speak concerning Christ and the church ; or mention this law and institution of marriage, with respect to them; for the leaving of father and mother prefigured Christ's coming forth from the Father, and coming into this world in human nature, and his disregard to his earthly parents, in comparison with his people, and his service for them; the man cleaving to the wife very aptly expresses the strong affection of Christ to his church, and the near communion there is between them; and their being one flesh denotes the union of them; and indeed, the marriage of Adam and Eve was a type of Christ and his church; for in this the first Adam was a figure of him that was to come, as well as in being a federal head to his posterity: Adam was before Eve, so Christ was before his church; God thought it not proper that man should be alone, so neither Christ, but that he should have some fellows and companions with him: the formation of Eve from Adam was typical of the church's production from Christ; she was made of him while he was asleep, which sleep was from the Lord, and it was not an ordinary one; which may resemble the sufferings and death of Christ, which were from the Lord, and were not common; and which are the redemption of his church and people; and which secure their comfort and happiness, and wellbeing: she was taken out of his side, and built up a woman of one of his ribs; both the justification and sanctification of the church are from Christ, from the water and the blood which issued out of his side, when on the cross: the bringing and presentation of Eve to Adam has its mystery; it was God that brought her to him; and she was the same that was made out of him; and to the same Adam was she brought of whose rib she was made, and that not against her will: so it is God that draws souls to Christ, and espouses them to him, even the same that he has chosen in him, and Christ has redeemed by his blood; and to the same are they brought, who was wounded for their transgressions, and bruised for their sins; and they are made willing in the day of his power upon them, to come and give themselves to him. Adam's consent and acknowledgment of Eve to be his wife, shadow forth Christ's hearty reception and acknowledgment of the saints, as being of him, and his, when they are brought unto him under the influences of his grace and Spirit.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 22-33 - The duty of wives is, submission to their husbands in the Lord, whic includes honouring and obeying them, from a principle of love to them The duty of husbands is to love their wives. The love of Christ to the church is an example, which is sincere, pure, and constant notwithstanding her failures. Christ gave himself for the church, tha he might sanctify it in this world, and glorify it in the next, that he might bestow on all his members a principle of holiness, and delive them from the guilt, the pollution, and the dominion of sin, by thos influences of the Holy Spirit, of which baptismal water was the outwar sign. The church and believers will not be without spot or wrinkle til they come to glory. But those only who are sanctified now, shall be glorified hereafter. The words of Adam, mentioned by the apostle, ar spoken literally of marriage; but they have also a hidden sense in them, relating to the union between Christ and his church. It was kind of type, as having resemblance. There will be failures and defect on both sides, in the present state of human nature, yet this does no alter the relation. All the duties of marriage are included in unit and love. And while we adore and rejoice in the condescending love of Christ, let husbands and wives learn hence their duties to each other Thus the worst evils would be prevented, and many painful effects woul be avoided __________________________________________________________________
Greek Textus Receptus
το 3588 μυστηριον 3466 τουτο 5124 μεγα 3173 εστιν 2076 5748 εγω 1473 δε 1161 λεγω 3004 5719 εις 1519 χριστον 5547 και 2532 εις 1519 την 3588 εκκλησιαν 1577
Vincent's NT Word Studies
32. A great mystery. Great is predicative, not attributive. Rev., correctly, this mystery is great. The reference in this mystery is to the preceding statement of the conjugal relation of the Church with Christ, typified by the human marriage relation.
Concerning Christ and the Church. Rev., in regard of (eiv) Not calling your attention to the mere human relationship, but to the mysterious relation between Christ and His Church, of which that is a mere semblance.
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:32 { this mystery is great} (to musterion touto mega estin). For the word "mystery" see #1:9. Clearly Paul means to say that the comparison of marriage to the union of Christ and the church is the mystery. He makes that plain by the next words. {But I speak} (egw de legw). "Now I mean." Cf. #1Co 7:29; 15:50. {In regard of Christ and of the church} (eis criston kai [eis] ten ekklesian). "With reference to Christ and the church." That is all that eis here means.
