Ephesians 2:20

Ephesians 2:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
• English Standard Version (ESV)built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
• New King James Version (NKJV)having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
• New Living Translation (NLT)Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Context of Ephesians 2:20

18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20 word by word

ἐποικοδομηθέντες ἐπὶ τῷ θεμελίῳ τῶν ἀποστόλων καὶ προφητῶν, ὄντος ἀκρογωνιαίου αὐτοῦ Χριστοῦ ἸησοῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And are builtἐποικοδομέωepoikodomeō · to build up/uponG2026
• uponἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• the foundationὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the foundationθεμέλιοςthemelios · foundationG2310
• of the apostlesἀπόστολοςapostolos · apostleG652
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• prophetsπροφήτηςprophētēs · prophetG4396
• JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
• ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• himselfαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• beingεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the chief cornerἀκρογωνιαῖοςakrogōniaios · cornerstoneG204

Cross-references for Ephesians 2:20

• Ephesians 4:12to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
• 1 Peter 2:4As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—
• Ephesians 4:11So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
• Isaiah 28:16So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.
• Matthew 16:18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
• 1 Corinthians 12:28And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.
• Galatians 2:9James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
• Revelation 21:14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
• Psalms 118:22The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
• Matthew 21:42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ?
• Mark 12:10Haven’t you read this passage of Scripture: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
• Luke 20:17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: “ ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’ ?
• Acts 4:11Jesus is “ ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’
• 1 Peter 2:7Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Commentaries on Ephesians 2:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20And 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, 1 Peter 2:4, 1 Peter 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…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20And are built upon the foundation - The comparison of the church with a building, is common in the Scriptures: compare the notes at 1 Corinthians 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…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 19-22Verses 19-22 The church is compared to a city, and every converted sinner is free of it. It is also compared to a house, and every converted sinner is one of the family; a servant, and a child in God's house. The church is also compared to a building, founded on the doctrine of Christ; delivered by the prophets of the Old Testament, and the apostles of the New. God dwells in all believers now; they become the temple of God through the working of the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20Apostles 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…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2020. Translate as Greek, "Built up upon," &c. (participle; having been built up upon; omit, therefore, "and are"). Compare 1Co 3:11, 12. The same image in Ep 3:18, recurs in his address to the Ephesian elders (Ac 20:32), and in his Epistle to Timothy at Ephesus (1Ti 3:15; 2Ti 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…Read the comment

Topics related to Ephesians 2:20

• Church
• Cornerstone
• Fellowship
• House
• Jesus Continued
• Righteous
• Stones

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Jesus
• Christ, Messiah
• Jesus, Jesus Christ, Christ Jesus
• Corner-Stone
• Jesus Christ
• Afar
• Alien
• Church
• Corner

Commentaries on Ephesians 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings