Devine Scripture

Ephesians 2:20

What does Ephesians 2:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Ephesians 2:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Ephesians 2:20 means

This new community rests on a firm foundation: the apostles and prophets, who delivered God’s revealed truth about Christ. At the critical point stands Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone sets the alignment and holds the structure together; without him, nothing is square or stable. This underscores both authority and focus: the church is built by the apostolic-prophetic witness and shaped by Christ’s person and work. Any structure not aligned to him will crack. The verse gives confidence that the church’s origin and growth are not accidental but designed and secured by God’s revealed plan centered on Christ.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Resting on the base of the Apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief keystone,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being chief corner-<FI> stone<Fi> ,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the corner-stone,

Context

Verse 20 explains how the household of God (v. 19) is being built: on the foundational ministry of apostles and prophets, with Christ as the aligning cornerstone. This sets up verse 21’s picture of the whole building growing into a holy temple and verse 22’s application to the readers. The flow emphasizes both the church’s continuity with revealed truth and its ongoing, Christ-centered growth.

v.19So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,

v.20This passage

v.21in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Isaiah 28:16

    therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.

  • Matthew 16:18

    And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

  • Luke 20:17

    But he looked upon them, and said, What then is this that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner?

  • 1 Corinthians 12:28

    And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.

  • 1 Peter 2:7

    For you therefore that believe is the preciousness: but for such as disbelieve, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner;

  • Matthew 21:42

    Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvellous in our eyes?

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