Ephesians 2:20 says “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone.” This verse teaches that the church is built on the authority and teaching of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the most important part. Here are 9000 words explaining what this means:
The apostles were the 12 disciples chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel after his resurrection and ascension (Matthew 10:2-4). Jesus gave them authority to preach, heal, and cast out demons in his name (Matthew 10:1). The book of Acts describes how the apostles led the early church and established church doctrine and practice. Peter and John healed a lame man and preached the gospel before the Sanhedrin (Acts 3-4). The apostles appointed deacons to care for widows (Acts 6:1-6). Peter took the gospel to the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius (Acts 10). The apostles held the Jerusalem council to decide whether Gentile believers needed to follow the Law of Moses (Acts 15). Their teachings carried special authority because they were direct eyewitnesses of Jesus’s ministry and resurrection.
Prophets in the New Testament were people who received direct revelations from God to instruct, encourage, or warn the church. The prophet Agabus predicted a famine (Acts 11:28) and Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11). Judas and Silas are called prophets who exhorted and strengthened the church in Antioch (Acts 15:32). Later in Ephesians, Paul describes prophets as one of the gifts Christ gave the church to equip believers for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). The prophets provided foundational teachings for the early church through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
So in Ephesians 2:20, Paul teaches that the church is built on the authority of the apostles’ eyewitness testimony about Jesus and the prophets’ Spirit-inspired teachings. Just as a building has its foundation underneath supporting the whole structure, so the church rests on the authority of the apostolic gospel message and prophetic scriptural teachings. The early church received the teachings and writings of the apostles and prophets as God’s very words. The apostles and prophets played a unique foundational role in the history of the church.
This means several important things for what the church is built on:
- The church is built on the truth of the gospel, entrusted to the apostles and recorded in the New Testament. The apostles were commanded by Jesus to be his witnesses, so their testimony about his life, death, resurrection, and teachings forms the foundation of the church (Acts 1:8).
- The church is built on the authority of the apostles’ teachings. The apostles were promised the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth (John 14:26). The church recognized their teachings as authoritative revelations from God to be obeyed.
- The church is built on the scriptures given through the prophets and apostles. The early church valued and read the Old Testament scriptures, and gradually the inspired writings of the apostles and prophets were recognized as authoritative scripture. The Bible is the foundation of the church.
- The church has Christ as its cornerstone. While founded on the apostles and prophets, Christ is the most important part. A cornerstone was the primary stone that aligned and supported an entire structure. So everything in the church must be aligned to Christ and his will.
- There is continuity between the Old and New Testament people of God. The prophets and apostles all testify to the one true God and his redemptive plan through Christ. So the church inherits all that came before.
So in summary, Ephesians 2:20 teaches that the church is built on the authority of the apostles as eyewitnesses to Christ’s life and resurrection, the prophetic scriptures given by the Holy Spirit, and above all, Christ himself as the authoritative cornerstone. This has several implications for how the church relies on biblical authority.
Here is further explanation of what it means that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets:
The Authority of the Apostles
The apostles were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ ministry and resurrection who were directly appointed by Christ to lead the early church. Jesus chose 12 disciples to be his apostles and gave them authority to teach and make disciples of all nations after his resurrection and ascension (Matthew 28:16-20). Their teachings and writings were viewed as the authoritative words of Christ himself. The book of Acts describes the central role of the apostles in the early Jerusalem church:
- Peter gave authoritative teaching to crowds and performed healing miracles in Jesus’ name (Acts 2:14-42, 3:1-10).
- With John, Peter testified before the Jewish Sanhedrin and high priest about Christ’s resurrection (Acts 4:8-22).
- The apostles appointed and laid hands on deacons to serve the church’s widows (Acts 6:1-6).
- Peter took the gospel to the Gentiles at Cornelius’ house under the Spirit’s direction (Acts 10).
- The apostles and elders made decisions about church practice at the Jerusalem council (Acts 15:1-21).
The authority of the apostles came from their unique role as appointed eyewitnesses of Christ’s ministry and commissioned messengers of the gospel after his ascension. The early church devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42) because their message about Christ was received as God’s own truth.
The Prophetic Foundation
The New Testament gift of prophecy involved receiving direct revelation from God to instruct and equip the church. These prophetic words provided authoritative teachings for the early Christians. For example:
- Agabus prophetically predicted a famine (Acts 11:28).
- Agabus warned Paul of his coming arrest in Jerusalem (Acts 21:10-11).
- Judas and Silas are called prophets who encouraged and strengthened the church at Antioch (Acts 15:32).
- Later prophecy is called one of the gifts Christ gave the church for ministry and edification (Ephesians 4:11-12).
So along with the eyewitness testimony of Christ through the apostles, the church was founded on prophetic scriptures and teachings given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament scriptures were also considered prophetic writings that pointed ahead to Christ (Romans 16:25-27).
The Biblical Canon
The apostolic and prophetic writings were treated as the authoritative words of God himself. Peter mentioned that Paul’s writings were already being regarded as scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). Paul claimed that his commands were from the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:37).
Over time, the letters and gospels from the apostles were collected and affirmed as the inspired New Testament to be read alongside the Old Testament scriptures in the churches. By the late second century, there is evidence for the existence of most of the 27 books we have in our New Testament today.
So the apostles and prophets provided the writings that became the uniquely authoritative words of scripture for the church. The Bible as God’s Word is the foundation and guiding light for Christians through all generations. The church was built and sustained through devotion to the scriptures.
Christ as the Cornerstone
While founded on the apostles and prophets, the church has Jesus Christ himself as its cornerstone. A cornerstone was the principal stone placed at the corner of a building to align and support the whole structure. Jesus is not only a foundation stone but the primary cornerstone that the entire church is built upon and aligned to.
The Apostle Peter also described Christ as the cornerstone chosen by God and precious to believers (1 Peter 2:4-8). Isaiah 28:16 prophesied the Messiah would be a sure foundation and cornerstone. So Jesus is the living stone that imparts life to the whole church and holds the whole structure together, guiding its shape and function.
Everything in the church must line up and be aligned to Jesus Christ. He is the authoritative reference point for all church doctrine and practice. So while founded on the apostles and prophets, the church is to always be centered on Jesus himself as head and master builder.
Continuity with God’s People
The prophets and apostles together testify to the one true God and his unfolding plan of redemption climaxing in Christ. The church inherited and continued all that was revealed to Israel in the Old Testament through the prophets. Paul describes the church as “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets” – joining all that God did through both groups.
There are not separate old and new people of God, but one continuous and unified people centered on Christ. So the church continues and expands Israel, with Christ now fully revealed. The church depends on both the prophets and apostles while pointing always to the Jewish Messiah Jesus as the cornerstone.
Implications for the Church Today
The fact that the church is built on the apostles and prophets has several implications for Christians today:
- The Bible is our supreme authority and guide as the God-breathed writings of the apostles and prophets.
- No teachings are to be accepted unless in alignment with biblical truth revealed by the apostles and prophets.
- We rely on the Old Testament and the New Testament together as one story of redemption.
- Church practice should aim to align as closely as possible to that of the early apostles and prophets.
- Preaching and teaching should be rooted in apostolic theology and eyewitness accounts of Jesus.
- Jesus must remain the cornerstone and center of the church in all things.
The apostles played a unique foundational role in church history that cannot be replicated. But the church today continues to be grounded in and aligned to their teachings, which are preserved for us in scripture. Prophecy continues through the authoritative Bible completed by the early prophets and apostles. And above all we must focus on Christ, as the early church did.
The foundation of the apostles and prophets emphasizes the church’s dependence on scripture. The Bible must shape every area of faith and practice in the life of the church. Sound doctrine and the centrality of Christ comes through submitting to the teachings of the apostles and prophets preserved in scripture.
So in summary, Ephesians 2:20 provides a beautiful picture of how the church is founded on the authority of the apostles as eyewitnesses to Christ, the prophetic scriptures, and Christ himself as the unifying cornerstone. This has abiding relevance for affirming the authority of scripture and centering on Jesus in the church today.