And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Parallel translations
- WEB being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;
- 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 2:4–5To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
- Isa 28:16Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
- 1 Pet 2:7–8Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
- Ps 118:22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
- Eph 4:11–13And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
- Matt 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Rev 21:14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
- Acts 4:11–12This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
- 1 Cor 3:9–11For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
- Mark 12:10–11And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
- 1 Cor 12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
- Gal 2:9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
- Matt 21:42Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
- Luke 20:17–18And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
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.