Ralph Earle notes that while it is "often assumed that Paul here declares 'the apostles and the prophets' (probably NT prophets) to be the foundation on which the Church is built," this conclusion does not necessarily follow from the syntax and grammar of the text. Earle refers to Meyers' observation that the foundation in Eph. 2:20 is Christ. Meyers writes: "The apostles and prophets are not the foundation, but have laid it."
Indeed it is possible to construe the genitive in this way ("TWN APOSTOLWN KAI PROFHTWN"), namely as a genitive of possession (not as a genitive of apposition). Nevertheless, I have no problem with viewing the apostles as secondary rather than primary foundation stones.
David Aune also maintains that while Eph. 2:20 can be taken as a genitive of apposition, Paul speaks of Jesus Christ "as the basic QEMELIOS, "foundation" (1 Cor 3:11)." See Aune's Word commentary on Revelation (page 1157). While the apostles are called foundation stones of New Jerusalem (the glorified EKKLHSIA TOU QEOU)--this appellation in no way conflicts with the verses that declare Christ to be the foundation anymore than do those passages which speak of both Christ and his ecclesia as "the seed of Abraham" (Gal. 3:16, 29):
"Peter applies Isaiah's prophecy concerning the cornerstone to Christ. It is noteworthy that a cornerstone controls the design of the building and holds the structure together. In the NT, the symbol of the foundation stone is used both of Christ (1 Cor 3:11) and of the apostles and prophets (Eph 2:20). But only Christ combines the functions of both foundation stone and cornerstone" (1 and 2 Peter, Jude. Norman Hillyer. P. 62-63).
Friday, February 23, 2018
Foundation Stone: The Apostles or Christ?
Jesus is the foundation of the Christian ecclesia. While I have always taken Eph. 2:20 as a reference to the apostles and prophets as "secondary foundation stones" with Jesus as the "primary foundation stone" or cornerstone of the Christian communitas fidelis--it must be admitted that there is another possible (grammatical) understanding of this verse.
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The interpretation that the apostles and prophets serve as foundation stones in a secondary sense does not diminish Christ's role as the cornerstone. A foundation is not composed of a single stone but multiple elements working together to support a building. The apostles and prophets played a foundational role in establishing the early Church through their teaching, witness, and revelation. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, Paul does stress that "no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." Yet, he also speaks of himself as a "wise builder" who builds on that foundation. Thus, the apostles have a distinct foundational role in the Church, but it is always dependent on and aligned with Christ’s central role as the cornerstone.
The cornerstone was a critical stone in ancient construction, which determined the structure’s alignment and stability. Ephesians 2:20 places Christ in this crucial position. His role as the cornerstone ensures that the Church, though built upon the apostles and prophets, derives its ultimate strength and coherence from Christ. The apostles and prophets did not act independently of Christ but were empowered and guided by Him, making them integral to the foundation in the Church’s formation and growth. Without Christ as the cornerstone, their work would have no stability or alignment with God’s will.
While some have argued that the genitive construction "of the apostles and prophets" could be interpreted as a genitive of possession (indicating they "laid the foundation"), the more straightforward reading of the text presents the apostles and prophets as part of the foundation itself. This view aligns with the broader context of the New Testament, which frequently refers to the apostles as the foundational leaders of the Church (see Matthew 16:18, Revelation 21:14). The foundation in Ephesians 2:20 is not solely Christ, but also includes the apostles and prophets, whose teachings and leadership were essential for the Church’s early development.
In Revelation 21:14, the apostles are explicitly referred to as foundation stones: “The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.” This clearly shows that the apostles have a unique foundational role in the structure of God’s Church. This does not contradict the idea that Christ is the cornerstone but reinforces the notion that God’s Church is built on both Christ and His chosen apostles.
The image of Christ as the cornerstone does not exclude the possibility of others contributing to the foundation. In fact, the New Testament’s use of architectural metaphors for the Church often involves multiple participants. In 1 Peter 2:4-5, believers themselves are described as "living stones" being built into a spiritual house. This reinforces the idea that multiple "stones" (including apostles, prophets, and believers) form the Church, but all depend on Christ as the cornerstone.
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