Ephesians 2:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

NIV: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

NASB: having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone,

CSB: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

NLT: Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

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

NKJV: having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone,

The family and kingdom of God (Ephesians 2:19) are "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets." Paul will again refer to the "apostles and prophets" in Ephesians 3:5, as important leaders in the foundation of the church. Ephesians 4:11–12 notes both groups as church leaders whose roles included equipping believers for acts of service. Apostles were those associated personally with Jesus; the name literally means "sent ones," who were the first to share the message of Christ. Prophets included those Old Testament figures and early church leaders who proclaimed God's truth. Though people may serve in similar roles today, these roles of apostles and prophets as foundations of the church were unique to the New Testament time period.

Paul also reminds his readers of the ultimate leader: "Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone." The cornerstone was the first rock used to establish the foundation of an ancient building. The apostles and prophets were the foundations, but Jesus was the "first stone" or cornerstone to begin the church.

Ephesians 2:11–22 explains how those who are saved, by grace through faith in Christ, have become part of a single family. Prior to the coming of Jesus, the Jewish people considered Gentiles to be unclean and inferior. Here, Paul explains how the gospel extends hope, promise, and a relationship with God to Jews and Gentiles alike. Most of the Ephesian church would have been Gentiles, and Paul frequently found himself countering anti-Gentile sentiment among various churches.

Paul repeatedly emphasizes that salvation is accomplished on the basis of grace, through faith. Good works, human effort, and our best intentions will never be enough to earn salvation. Every person is marked with sin, both deliberate and accidental, and for this reason we deserve to be separated from God. Only through His mercy and grace can we be saved, leaving no room for bragging. This also means that all who are saved, Jew and Gentile alike, are part of the same spiritual family. There is no cause for hostility between believers; we are all unworthy, and all saved by the same kindness of God.

The first three chapters of Ephesians focus on doctrinal issues; the last three show how those principles should be applied in real life. Chapter 2 makes a pair of related points about our status as saved believers. First, salvation is entirely dependent on the grace of God, not human efforts. Second, this means all Christians are part of the same family, Jew and Gentile alike. This bridges chapter 1's explanation of God's awesome glory to chapter 3's discussion of God bringing His long-awaited plan into action.

Ephesians follows a theme common in Paul's writings: connecting theory with practice. In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. The first three chapters lay out spiritual ideas, the last three chapters show how these truths should be applied in the life of a mature believer. Paul focuses heavily on love, the unity of the Christian church, and the incredible value of our salvation through Christ.

Accessed 12/3/2024 12:10:24 PM