Eph 2:20-22 | TNotes | STEP | 2:20 Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God. • Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5 ; 4:11 ; see also 1 Cor 12:10 , 28-29 ; 14:1-5 , 22-24 , 29-32 , 39 ; cp. Acts 13:1 ; 19:6 ; 21:9-10 ). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10 ). • The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets )—that is, on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Rev 21:14 ; cp. Matt 16:18 ). However, the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself , the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (cp. 1 Cor 3:11 ). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isa 28:16 ; Mark 12:10 ; Acts 4:11 ; 1 Pet 2:6-7 ).

2:20 ^a Apostles are missionary evangelists commissioned by God.

• Here, the prophets appear to be New Testament prophets, not Old Testament ones (see 3:5 ^b; 4:11 ^c; see also 1 Cor 12:10 ^d, 28-29 ^e; 14:1-5 ^f, 22-24 ^g, 29-32 ^h, 39 ⁱ; cp. Acts 13:1 ^j; 19:6 ^k; 21:9-10 ^l). In both the Old Testament and New Testament, prophets are not primarily predictors of the future but are empowered to speak a message from God (see 1 Cor 12:10 ^m).

• The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets (or on the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets)—that is, on their faithful witness to the saving message of Christ (see Rev 21:14 ⁿ; cp. Matt 16:18 ^o). However, the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself, the Messiah, Savior, and Lord (cp. 1 Cor 3:11 ^p). The cornerstone is the most important stone in a building’s foundation (see Isa 28:16 ^q; Mark 12:10 ^r; Acts 4:11 ^s; 1 Pet 2:6-7 ^t).
2:21 ^u Joined together in Christ, Gentile and Jewish Christians become a holy temple for the Lord, because the Lord himself is among his people (see Matt 18:20 ^v; 28:20 ^w; 1 Cor 3:16 ^x; 1 Pet 2:4-5 ^y).