Ephesians 2:20

Translations

Modern

…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Traditional

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Literal

…having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,

Latin

…superædificati super fundamentum apostolorum, et prophetarum, ipso summo angulari lapide Christo Jesu:

Original

Greek

English

…built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

Notes

Ephesians 2:20

Apostles are missionary evangelists sent by God. They travel to share the good news about Jesus with others.
Here, the prophets seem to be from the New Testament, not the Old Testament (see 3:5; 4:11; see also 1 Corinthians 12:10, 28–29; 14:1–5, 22–24, 29–32, 39; compare Acts 13:1; 19:6; 21:9–10). In both the Old and New Testaments, prophets do not primarily predict the future. Instead, they are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Corinthians 12:10).
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets: This means the church is based on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Revelation 21:14; compare Matthew 16:18). However, Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone, the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (compare 1 Corinthians 3:11). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isaiah 28:16; Mark 12:10; Acts 4:11; 1 Peter 2:6–7).

Ephesians 2:11–22

Paul now focuses on the grace God has given, particularly to Gentiles (non-Jews). God brought them into his family and united them with Jews in a new, unified, multiethnic community. This new community is the body of Christ, the church. Paul’s focus on including Gentiles suggests they might have experienced discrimination from Jewish Christians.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) God’s Covenant Love Jews and Gentiles (Non-Jews) Living for Christ Paul’s Role as an Apostle Temple Worship The Church The Church as God’s Temple The Message of Reconciliation The New Community

Related verses

1 Peter 2:4–5
As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,
Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Lord GOD says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken.
1 Peter 2:7–8
To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”
Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Ephesians 4:11–13
And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
Matthew 16:18
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Revelation 21:14
The wall of the city had twelve foundations bearing the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
1 Corinthians 3:9–11
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
Acts 4:11–12
This Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
Mark 12:10–11
Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
Galatians 2:9
And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.

Parallels

Isaiah 28:14–22 1 Corinthians 3:10–15 1 Peter 2:1–8

People

Jesus: The Son of God and Savior of the world

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Binding and Loosing Church Cornerstone Grace Letter to the Ephesians Peace Peter, the Apostle Second Letter to the Thessalonians

Topics

Church: Christ, Head of Church: Christian, Divinely Established Church: Design of Cornerstone of Christ Fellowship of the Righteous Foundation: Doctrines of the Apostles Foundation: Joined Together by Corner Stones House: Architecture of Figurative Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Cornerstone Jesus, the Christ: Saviour Righteous: Described Stones: The True Foundation The Church: Christ, the Foundation-Stone of the First Temple: The Spiritual Church Titles and Names of Christ: Chief Corner-Stone Union with Christ: Illustrated: Foundation and Building

Ephesians 2:20

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