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;
• New International Version (NIV)built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
• 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,

Context of Ephesians 2:20

18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20 word by word

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

• 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 4:12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
• 1 Peter 2:4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
• Ephesians 4:11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
• Isaiah 28:16Therefore thus saith the Lord Yhwh, 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.
• Matthew 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Assembly; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
• 1 Corinthians 3:9For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
• 1 Corinthians 12:28And God hath set some in the Assembly, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
• Galatians 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.
• Revelation 21:14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
• Psalms 118:22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.
• Matthew 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?
• Mark 12:10And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:
• Luke 20:17And 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?
• Acts 4:11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
• 1 Peter 2:7Unto 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,

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