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Selected Verse: Ephesians 2:20 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Eph 2:20	Strong Concordance	And are built [2026] upon [1909] the foundation [2310] of the apostles [652] and [2532] prophets [4396], Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] himself [846] being [5607] the chief corner [204] stone;
	King James	And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Translate as Greek, "Built up upon," &c. (participle; having been built up upon; omit, therefore, "and are"). Compare Co1 3:11-12. The same image in Eph 3:18, recurs in his address to the Ephesian elders (Act 20:32), and in his Epistle to Timothy at Ephesus (Ti1 3:15; Ti2 2:19), naturally suggested by the splendid architecture of Diana's temple; the glory of the Christian temple is eternal and real, not mere idolatrous gaud. The image of a building is appropriate also to the Jew-Christians; as the temple at Jerusalem was the stronghold of Judaism; as Diana's temple, of paganism. foundation of the apostles, &c.--that is, upon their ministry and living example (compare Mat 16:18). Christ Himself, the only true Foundation, was the grand subject of their ministry, and spring of their life. As one with Him and His fellow workers, they, too, in a secondary sense, are called "foundations" (Rev 21:14). The "prophets" are joined with them closely; for the expression is here not "foundations of the apostles and the prophets," but "foundations of the apostles and prophets." For the doctrine of both was essentially one (Pe1 1:10-11; Rev 19:10). The apostles take the precedency (Luk 10:24). Thus he appropriately shows regard to the claims of the Jews and Gentiles: "the prophets" representing the old Jewish dispensation, "the apostles" the new. The "prophets" of the new also are included. BENGEL and ALFORD refer the meaning solely to these (Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11). These passages imply, I think, that the New Testament prophets are not excluded; but the apostle's plain reference to Psa 118:22, "the head stone of the corner," proves that the Old Testament prophets are a prominent thought. David is called a "prophet" in Act 2:30. Compare also Isa 28:16; another prophet present to the mind of Paul, which prophecy leans on the earlier one of Jacob (Gen 49:24). The sense of the context, too, suits this: Ye were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (in the time of her Old Testament prophets), but now ye are members of the true Israel, built upon the foundation of her New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets. Paul continually identifies his teaching with that of Israel's old prophets (Act 26:22; Act 28:23). The costly foundation-stones of the temple (Kg1 5:17) typified the same truth (compare Jer 51:26). The same stone is at once the corner-stone and the foundation-stone on which the whole building rests. Paul supposes a stone or rock so large and so fashioned as to be both at once; supporting the whole as the foundation, and in part rising up at the extremities, so as to admit of the side walls meeting in it, and being united in it as the corner-stone [ZANCHIUS]. As the corner-stone, it is conspicuous, as was Christ (Pe1 2:6), and coming in men's way may be stumbled over, as the Jews did at Christ (Mat 21:42; Pe1 2:7).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Translate as Greek, "Built up upon," &c. (participle; having been built up upon; omit, therefore, "and are"). Compare Co1 3:11-12. The same image in Eph 3:18, recurs in his address to the Ephesian elders (Act 20:32), and in his Epistle to Timothy at Ephesus (Ti1 3:15; Ti2 2:19), naturally suggested by the splendid architecture of Diana's temple; the glory of the Christian temple is eternal and real, not mere idolatrous gaud. The image of a building is appropriate also to the Jew-Christians; as the temple at Jerusalem was the stronghold of Judaism; as Diana's temple, of paganism.

foundation of the apostles, &c.--that is, upon their ministry and living example (compare Mat 16:18). Christ Himself, the only true Foundation, was the grand subject of their ministry, and spring of their life. As one with Him and His fellow workers, they, too, in a secondary sense, are called "foundations" (Rev 21:14). The "prophets" are joined with them closely; for the expression is here not "foundations of the apostles and the prophets," but "foundations of the apostles and prophets." For the doctrine of both was essentially one (Pe1 1:10-11; Rev 19:10). The apostles take the precedency (Luk 10:24). Thus he appropriately shows regard to the claims of the Jews and Gentiles: "the prophets" representing the old Jewish dispensation, "the apostles" the new. The "prophets" of the new also are included. BENGEL and ALFORD refer the meaning solely to these (Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11). These passages imply, I think, that the New Testament prophets are not excluded; but the apostle's plain reference to Psa 118:22, "the head stone of the corner," proves that the Old Testament prophets are a prominent thought. David is called a "prophet" in Act 2:30. Compare also Isa 28:16; another prophet present to the mind of Paul, which prophecy leans on the earlier one of Jacob (Gen 49:24). The sense of the context, too, suits this: Ye were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (in the time of her Old Testament prophets), but now ye are members of the true Israel, built upon the foundation of her New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets. Paul continually identifies his teaching with that of Israel's old prophets (Act 26:22; Act 28:23). The costly foundation-stones of the temple (Kg1 5:17) typified the same truth (compare Jer 51:26). The same stone is at once the corner-stone and the foundation-stone on which the whole building rests. Paul supposes a stone or rock so large and so fashioned as to be both at once; supporting the whole as the foundation, and in part rising up at the extremities, so as to admit of the side walls meeting in it, and being united in it as the corner-stone [ZANCHIUS]. As the corner-stone, it is conspicuous, as was Christ (Pe1 2:6), and coming in men's way may be stumbled over, as the Jews did at Christ (Mat 21:42; Pe1 2:7).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And are built upon the foundation - The comparison of the church with a building, is common in the Scriptures: compare the notes at Co1 3:9-10. The comparison was probably taken from the temple, and as that was an edifice of great beauty, expense, and sacredness, it was natural to compare the church with it. Besides, the temple was the sacred place where God dwelt on the earth; and as the church was the place where he delighted now to abide, it became natural to speak of his church as the temple, or the residence of God; see the notes at Isa 54:11-12. That building, says Paul, was permanently founded, and was rising with great beauty of proportion, and with great majesty and splendor. Of the apostles - The doctrines which they taught are the basis on which the church rests. It is "possible" that Paul referred here to a splendid edifice, particularly because the Ephesians were distinguished for their skill in architecture, and because the celebrated temple of Diana was among them. An allusion to a building, however, as an illustration of the church occurs several times in his other epistles, and was an allusion which would be everywhere understood. And prophets - The prophets of the Old Testament, using the word, probably, to denote the Old Testament in general. That is, the doctrines of divine revelation, whether communicated by prophets or apostles, were laid at the foundation of the Christian church. It was not rounded on philosophy, or tradition, or on human laws, or on a venerable antiquity, but on the great truths which God had revealed. Paul does not say that it was founded on "Peter," as the papists do, but on the prophets and apostles in general. If Peter had been the "vicegerent of Christ," and the head of the church, it is incredible that his brother Paul should not have given him some honorable notice in this place. Why did he not allude to so important a fact? Would one who believed it have omitted it? Would a papist now omit it? Learn here: (1) That no reliance is to be placed on philosophy as a basis of religious doctrine. (2) that the traditions of people have no authority in the church, and constitute no part of the foundation. (3) that nothing is to be regarded as a fundamental part of the Christian system, or as binding on the conscience, which cannot be found in the "prophets and apostles;" that is, as it means here, in the Holy Scriptures. No decrees of councils; no ordinances of synods; no "standard" of doctrines; no creed or confession, is to be urged as authority in forming the opinions of people. They may be valuable for some purposes, but not for this; they may be referred to as interesting parts of history, but not to form the faith of Christians; they may be used in the church to express its belief, but not to form it. What is based on the authority of apostles and prophets is true, and always true, and only true; what may be found elsewhere, may be valuable and true, or not, but, at any rate, is not to be used to control the faith of people. Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone - see the note at Isa 28:16; Rom 9:33, note. The cornerstone is the most important in the building. (1) because the edifice rests mainly on the cornerstones. If they are small, and unstable, and settle down, the whole building is insecure; and hence care is taken to place a large stone firmly at each corner of an edifice. (2) because it occupies a conspicuous and honorable place. If documents or valuable articles are deposited at the foundation of a building it is within the cornerstone. The Lord Jesus is called the "cornerstone," because the whole edifice rests on him, or he occupies a place relatively as important as the cornerstone of an edifice. Were it not for him, the edifice could not be sustained for a moment. Neither prophets nor apostles alone could sustain it; see the notes at Co1 3:11; compare Pe1 2:6.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Of the apostles and prophets The foundation laid by them. Prophets are New-Testament prophets. See Eph 3:5; Eph 4:11. See on Co1 12:10. Chief corner-stone (ἀκρογωνίαου) Only here and Pe1 2:6.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets - As the foundation sustains the building, so the word of God, declared by the apostles and prophets, sustains the faith of all believers. God laid the foundation by them; but Christ himself is the chief corner - stone of the foundation. Elsewhere he is termed the foundation itself, Co1 3:11.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
And are built upon the foundation - Following the same metaphor, comparing the Church of Christ to a city, and to the temple, the believing Ephesians are represented as parts of that building; the living stones out of which it is principally formed, Pe1 2:4, Pe1 2:5, having for foundation - the ground plan, specification, and principle on which it was builded, the doctrine taught by the prophets in the Old Testament, and the apostles in the New. Jesus Christ being that corner stone, or ακρογωνιαιος, the chief angle or foundation corner stone, the connecting medium by which both Jews and Gentiles were united in the same building. Elsewhere Jesus Christ is termed the foundation stone. Behold I lay in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, Isa 28:16; but the meaning is the same in all the places where these terms, foundation and corner stone, occur; for in laying the foundation of a building, a large stone is generally placed at one of the angles or corners, which serves to form a part of the two walls which meet in that angle. When, therefore, the apostle says that Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone, it means such a foundation stone as that above mentioned.

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⁷ Unto you [5213] therefore [3767] which [3588] believe [4100] he is precious [5092]: but [1161] unto them which be disobedient [544], the stone [3037] which [3739] the builders [3618] disallowed [593], the same [3778] is made [1096] [1519] the head [2776] of the corner [1137],

⁴² Jesus [2424] saith [3004] unto them [846], Did ye [314] never [3763] read [314] in [1722] the scriptures [1124], The stone [3037] which [3739] the builders [3618] rejected [593], the same [3778] is become [1096] [1519] the head [2776] of the corner [1137]: this [3778] is [3844] the Lord's [2962] doing [1096], and [2532] it is [2076] marvellous [2298] in [1722] our [2257] eyes [3788]?

⁶ Wherefore [1352] also [2532] it is contained [4023] in [1722] the scripture [1124], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a chief corner [204] stone [3037], elect [1588], precious [1784]: and [2532] he that believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not be [3364] confounded [2617].

²⁶ And they shall not take [03947] of thee a stone [068] for a corner [06438], nor a stone [068] for foundations [04146]; but thou shalt be desolate [08077] for ever [05769], saith [05002] the LORD [03068].

¹⁷ And the king [04428] commanded [06680], and they brought [05265] great [01419] stones [068], costly [03368] stones [068], and hewed [01496] stones [068], to lay the foundation [03245] of the house [01004].

²³ And [1161] when they had appointed [5021] him [846] a day [2250], there came [2240] many [4119] to [4314] him [846] into [1519] his lodging [3578]; to whom [3739] he expounded [1620] and testified [1263] the kingdom [932] of God [2316], [5037] persuading [3982] them [846] concerning [4012] Jesus [2424], both [5037] out of [575] the law [3551] of Moses [3475], and [2532] out of the prophets [4396], from [575] morning [4404] till [2193] evening [2073].

²² Having [5177] therefore [3767] obtained [5177] help [1947] of [3844] God [2316], I continue [2476] unto [891] this [5026] day [2250], witnessing [3140] both [5037] to small [3398] and [2532] great [3173], saying [3004] none other things [3762] than [1622] those which [3739] [5037] the prophets [4396] and [2532] Moses [3475] did say [2980] should [3195] come [1096]:

²⁴ But his bow [07198] abode [03427] in strength [0386], and the arms [02220] of his hands [03027] were made strong [06339] by the hands [03027] of the mighty [046] God of Jacob [03290]; (from thence is the shepherd [07462], the stone [068] of Israel [03478]:)

¹⁶ Therefore thus saith [0559] the Lord [0136] GOD [03069], Behold, I lay [03245] in Zion [06726] for a foundation a stone [068], a tried [0976] stone [068], a precious [03368] corner [06438] stone, a sure [03245] foundation [04143]: he that believeth [0539] shall not make haste [02363].

³⁰ Therefore [3767] being [5225] a prophet [4396], and [2532] knowing [1492] that [3754] God [2316] had sworn [3660] with an oath [3727] to him [846], that of [1537] the fruit [2590] of his [846] loins [3751], according to [2596] the flesh [4561], he would raise up [450] Christ [5547] to sit [2523] on [1909] his [846] throne [2362];

²² The stone [068] which the builders [01129] refused [03988] is become the head [07218] stone of the corner [06438].

¹¹ And [2532] he [846] gave [1325] some [3303], apostles [652]; and [1161] some, prophets [4396]; and [1161] some, evangelists [2099]; and [1161] some, pastors [4166] and [2532] teachers [1320];

⁵ Which [3739] in [1722] other [2087] ages [1074] was [1107] not [3756] made known [1107] unto the sons [5207] of men [444], as [5613] it is [601] now [3568] revealed [601] unto his [846] holy [40] apostles [652] and [2532] prophets [4396] by [1722] the Spirit [4151];

²⁴ For [1063] I tell [3004] you [5213], that [3754] many [4183] prophets [4396] and [2532] kings [935] have desired [2309] to see [1492] those things which [3739] ye [5210] see [991], and [2532] have [1492] not [3756] seen [1492] them; and [2532] to hear [191] those things which [3739] ye hear [191], and [2532] have [191] not [3756] heard [191] them.

¹⁰ And [2532] I fell [4098] at [1715] his [846] feet [4228] to worship [4352] him [846]. And [2532] he said [3004] unto me [3427], See [3708] thou do it not [3361]: I am [1510] thy [4675] fellowservant [4889], and [2532] of thy [4675] brethren [80] that have [2192] the testimony [3141] of Jesus [2424]: worship [4352] God [2316]: for [1063] the testimony [3141] of Jesus [2424] is [2076] the spirit [4151] of prophecy [4394].

¹⁰ Of [4012] which [3739] salvation [4991] the prophets [4396] have enquired [1567] and [2532] searched diligently [1830], who [3588] prophesied [4395] of [4012] the grace [5485] that should come unto [1519] you [5209]:
¹¹ Searching [2045] what [1519] [5101], or [2228] what manner [4169] of time [2540] the Spirit [4151] of Christ [5547] which [3588] was in [1722] them [846] did signify [1213], when it testified beforehand [4303] the sufferings [3804] of [1519] Christ [5547], and [2532] the glory [1391] that should follow [3326] [5023].

¹⁴ And [2532] the wall [5038] of the city [4172] had [2192] twelve [1427] foundations [2310], and [2532] in [1722] them [846] the names [3686] of the twelve [1427] apostles [652] of the Lamb [721].

¹⁸ And [1161] I say [3004] also [2504] unto thee [4671], That [3754] thou [4771] art [1488] Peter [4074], and [2532] upon [1909] this [5026] rock [4073] I will build [3618] my [3450] church [1577]; and [2532] the gates [4439] of hell [86] shall [2729] not [3756] prevail against [2729] it [846].

¹⁹ Nevertheless [3305] the foundation [2310] of God [2316] standeth [2476] sure [4731], having [2192] this [5026] seal [4973], The Lord [2962] knoweth [1097] them that are [5607] his [846]. And [2532], Let [868] every one [3956] that nameth [3687] the name [3686] of Christ [5547] depart [868] from [575] iniquity [93].

¹⁵ But [1161] if [1437] I tarry long [1019], that [2443] thou mayest know [1492] how [4459] thou oughtest [1163] to behave thyself [390] in [1722] the house [3624] of God [2316], which [3748] is [2076] the church [1577] of the living [2198] God [2316], the pillar [4769] and [2532] ground [1477] of the truth [225].

³² And [2532] now [3569], brethren [80], I commend [3908] you [5209] to God [2316], and [2532] to the word [3056] of his [846] grace [5485], which [3588] is able [1410] to build you up [2026], and [2532] to give [1325] you [5213] an inheritance [2817] among [1722] all [3956] them which are sanctified [37].

¹⁸ May be able [1840] to comprehend [2638] with [4862] all [3956] saints [40] what [5101] is the breadth [4114], and [2532] length [3372], and [2532] depth [899], and [2532] height [5311];

¹¹ For [1063] other [243] foundation [2310] can [1410] no man [3762] lay [5087] than [3844] that is laid [2749], which [3739] is [2076] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].
¹² Now [1161] if any man [1536] build [2026] upon [1909] this [5126] foundation [2310] gold [5557], silver [696], precious [5093] stones [3037], wood [3586], hay [5528], stubble [2562];

¹¹ For [1063] other [243] foundation [2310] can [1410] no man [3762] lay [5087] than [3844] that is laid [2749], which [3739] is [2076] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

³³ As [2531] it is written [1125], Behold [2400], I lay [5087] in [1722] Sion [4622] a stumblingstone [3037] [4348] and [2532] rock [4073] of offence [4625]: and [2532] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] on [1909] him [846] shall [2617] not [3756] be ashamed [2617].

¹¹ O thou afflicted [06041], tossed with tempest [05590], and not comforted [05162], behold, I will lay [07257] thy stones [068] with fair colours [06320], and lay thy foundations [03245] with sapphires [05601].
¹² And I will make [07760] thy windows [08121] of agates [03539], and thy gates [08179] of carbuncles [068] [0688], and all thy borders [01366] of pleasant [02656] stones [068].

⁹ For [1063] we are [2070] labourers together [4904] with God [2316]: ye are [2075] God's [2316] husbandry [1091], ye are God's [2316] building [3619].
¹⁰ According [2596] to the grace [5485] of God [2316] which [3588] is given [1325] unto me [3427], as [5613] a wise [4680] masterbuilder [753], I have laid [5087] the foundation [2310], and [1161] another [243] buildeth [2026] thereon. But [1161] let [991] every man [1538] take heed [991] how [4459] he buildeth [2026] thereupon.

¹⁰ [1161] To another [243] the working [1755] of miracles [1411]; [1161] to another [243] prophecy [4394]; [1161] to another [243] discerning [1253] of spirits [4151]; [1161] to another [2087] divers kinds [1085] of tongues [1100]; [1161] to another [243] the interpretation [2058] of tongues [1100]:

¹¹ And [2532] he [846] gave [1325] some [3303], apostles [652]; and [1161] some, prophets [4396]; and [1161] some, evangelists [2099]; and [1161] some, pastors [4166] and [2532] teachers [1320];

¹¹ For [1063] other [243] foundation [2310] can [1410] no man [3762] lay [5087] than [3844] that is laid [2749], which [3739] is [2076] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

⁵ Ye [846] also [2532], as [5613] lively [2198] stones [3037], are built up [3618] a spiritual [4152] house [3624], an holy [40] priesthood [2406], to offer up [399] spiritual [4152] sacrifices [2378], acceptable [2144] to God [2316] by [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547].

⁴ To [4314] whom [3739] coming [4334], as unto a living [2198] stone [3037], disallowed [593] indeed [3303] of [5259] men [444], but [1161] chosen [1588] of [3844] God [2316], and precious [1784],