The Prophetic Foundation

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.  Ephesians 2:20

The question which we propose to answer in this issue of our bulletin reads: “Who are the prophets of Eph. 2:20?  Are they the Old Testament prophets, or the prophets mentioned a few verses later in 3:5, who are evidently New Testament prophets? Cf. Ephesians 4:11.”

The entire passage, of which verse 20 is a part, reads: “Ye…are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

It is true that in the apostolic church Christ gave the special office of prophets to the church.  Many different passages in the New Testament show this.  Nevertheless, the reference in this passage is not to those prophets who occupied this special office, but to the prophets in the old dispensation.  That this is indeed the case will become evident when we understand the point which Paul is making here.

Paul is speaking in this passage (as he does in the entire epistle) of the church of Christ.

When the Scriptures speak of that church, they use many different figures to help us understand what the church really is.  Many figures are needed because the church is so glorious and so blessed that one figure is unable to convey all the truth.

Sometimes the church is called the bride of Christ or of God (Rev. 19:7, 8; 22:17).  Sometimes the church is compared to the branches of a vine (John 15:1-6).  Then again the figure of an olive tree is used (Rom. 11:16-21).  In the context of this passage the church is compared to citizenship in a heavenly kingdom and to a household (vs. 19).  And in the passage we consider, the church is compared to a beautiful temple which during this present history is in the process of being built.

The verses we are treating describe that building in some detail.

First of all, the apostles and prophets are the foundation.

Secondly, Christ is the cornerstone.  In former days, the days which I also remember, the cornerstone of a building was not a decorative or commemorative block in a wall.  It was the key stone in the entire structure, for its shape and size determined the shape, size and strength of the foundation, which rested on it.  And determining the foundation, it determined the entire building.

Thirdly that building is a holy temple in which God dwells – “an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

Fourthly, the building is constantly being erected throughout history as each elect stone in that building is chosen by God, shaped and fitted through life’s experiences, and finally brought into heaven to be placed in its eternally determined spot.

Finally, when the building is completed, it is a perfect building reflecting the glory of God Himself.

The first question we face is the meaning of “apostles and prophets.”  It is clear that the temple cannot be literally built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.  This would be absurd.  And so the meaning is that the church is built upon the foundation of the Word of God which was given to the church through the prophets in the old dispensation and through the apostles in the new dispensation.

Then it makes sense too that Christ is the cornerstone because He is the One revealed in Scripture, and upon His truth is the whole church erected.

Christ says the same thing in Matthew 16:17, 18 when He tells us that the confession of Peter is the rock on which He builds His church.  “Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.  And 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.”

And do not forget that the confession of Peter was a confession of the divinity of Christ: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

That the truth of Scripture, which is fundamentally the truth concerning Christ, is the foundation of the Church ought not to surprise us.

In the first place, it is by means of the truth that the church is built, as that truth is proclaimed in the gospel.  It is the gospel through which Christ gathers His church from the nations and prepares it for glory.

But, secondly, the church is saved by Christ so that it may reflect the glory of God Himself as revealed in Christ.  God through Isaiah said it all: “This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise” (Is. 43:21).  The church shall into all eternity reveal all the riches of the glory of Almighty God.

But that glory is spoken of in the sacred Scriptures which contain all the truth concerning God.