Ephesians 2:19-20

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Ephesians 2:20

20. Translate as Greek, "Built up upon," c. (participle having been built up upon; omit, therefore, "and are"). Compare 1 Corinthians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 3:12. The same image in 1 Corinthians 3:12- :, recurs in his address to the Ephesian elders (1 Corinthians 3:12- :), and in his Epistle to Timothy at Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:19), naturally suggested by the splendid architecture of Diana's temple; the glory of the Christian temple is eternal and real, not mere idolatrous gaud. The... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:11-19

B. Corporate calling 2:11-3:19New spiritual life does not just mean that we have experienced regeneration individually. Additionally God brings every Christian into union with every other Christian. In Christ we have solidarity with other believers as well as solidarity with God. Paul next explained this corporate aspect of our being in Christ.". . . a major focus of this letter and of the Prison Epistles in general is the corporate nature of those who are in the body of Christ. Believers do... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:11-22

1. Present ministry 2:11-22The apostle first stated the reality of the union of all believers in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-13). Then he explained what this involves (Ephesians 2:14-18). Finally he described the consequences of this union (Ephesians 2:19-22). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:19

Because of this union Christians are no longer strangers (foreigners) and aliens in relation to believers of former ages. They are fellow citizens with all the saints, namely, believers who lived before Pentecost. Elsewhere Paul spoke of the local church as a household (1 Timothy 3:15), but here the household in view is all believers of all ages. [Note: See Hoehner, Ephesians, pp. 395-96.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:19-22

The consequences of Gentile believers’ union with Jewish believers 2:19-22 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ephesians 2:20

Paul, third, compared the church to a temple. It rests on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Evidently New Testament prophets are in view since the word "prophets" follows "apostles" (cf. Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11). These men constituted the foundation of the church since it was through them that God revealed and established the church."In practical terms this means that the church is built on the New Testament Scriptures." [Note: Stott, p. 107.] When Paul wrote, the cornerstone... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Ephesians 2:1-22

Gentiles and Jews are now One in Chirst1-10. Further illustration of God’s power. He raised both Gentiles and Jews from the death of sin and exalted them to Christ’s side.2. The prince of the power of the air] Jewish phraseology, as in Ephesians 1:21. The air is regarded as full of evil powers, with Satan as their prince (Ephesians 6:12; Luke 22:53; Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13). 3. Also we] ’we Jews were as dead in sins as you Gentiles, and were thus objects of God’s wrath’ (Ephesians 5:6).Had... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 2:19

(19) Strangers and foreigners.—Here the word rendered “stranger” means properly an alien, or foreigner; while the word translated “foreigners” signifies the resident aliens of an ancient city, who were but half-aliens, having free intercourse with the citizens, although no rights of citizenship. The latter word is used literally in Acts 7:6; Acts 7:29 (there rendered “sojourner”), and often in the LXX. version; perhaps metaphorically in 1 Peter 2:11. Such a sojourner, though in some sense less... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 2:19-22

(2 c.) Ephesians 2:19-22 sum up the two-fold idea of this chapter—union of the Gentiles, with God and with God’s chosen people—in the metaphor of the One Temple, of which Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone, and which, both collectively and in the individuality of each part, grows into a habitation of God. read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Ephesians 2:20

(20) Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.—In spite of much ancient and valuable authority, it seems impossible to take “the prophets” of this verse to be the prophets of the Old Testament. The order of the two words and the comparison of Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11, appear to be decisive—to say nothing of the emphasis on the present, in contrast with the past, which runs through the whole chapter. But it is more difficult to determine in what sense “the foundation of the... read more

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