being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
Parallel translations
- KJV And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
- BSB built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- NKJV having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
- NASB having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone. It shows Christ as the church's foundation and unifying center.
Overview
Shifting to a building image, Paul says God's household is built 'on the foundation of the apostles and prophets' — that is, on their gospel teaching — 'Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.' The cornerstone sets the line and bears the weight of the whole structure. Christ is thus both the foundation and the one who unites and supports the church.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- 1 Pet 2:4–5coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious.
- Isa 28:16Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone of a sure foundation. He who believes shall not act hastily.
- 1 Pet 2:7–8For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone,”
- Ps 118:22The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
- Eph 4:11–13He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
- Matt 16:18I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
- Rev 21:14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them twelve names of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb.
- Acts 4:11–12He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’
- 1 Cor 3:9–11For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s farming, God’s building.
- Mark 12:10–11Haven’t you even read this Scripture: ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner.
- 1 Cor 12:28God has set some in the assembly: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracle workers, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various kinds of languages.
- Gal 2:9and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.
- Matt 21:42Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?’
- Luke 20:17–18But he looked at them, and said, “Then what is this that is written, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, the same was made the chief cornerstone?’
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Every spiritual blessing is 'in Christ,' the head over all things for the church, in whom Jew and Gentile are made one new man by his blood.
How Ephesians 2:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.