all the building = Every building (Greek. oikodome) . The texts omit "the". Compare 1 Corinthians 3:9 . fitly framed together = harmoniously fitted together. Greek. sunarmologeo. Only here and Ephesians 4:16 . groweth = is growing, increasing. Temple = Sanctuary. Greek. naos. See Matthew 23:16 . read more
So then ye are no more strangers and sojourners, but ye are fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.As Taylor observed, there are no less than three metaphors of unity in Ephesians 2:19-21, expressed as: (1) common citizenship, (2) membership in a single household, and (3) mutual parts of one holy temple.[46]Paul was a Roman citizen and had received signal blessings from such a relationship. Thus it was natural that he should have compared the privileges of being in Christ... read more
Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone.The foundation of the apostles and prophets ... There are five foundations of the Christian faith mentioned in the New Testament: (1) The foundational teaching is composed of the teachings of Christ delivered through the apostles and prophets of the new dispensation (Matthew 7:24-26). (2) The foundational fact is that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:13-20). (3)... read more
In whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord.Each several building ... There is no compelling reason to follow the English Revised Version (1885) in this rendition. The RSV has "the whole structure"; the New English Bible (1961) has "the whole building"; and the KJV has "all the building." F. F. Bruce discussed this variation thus:The evidence for and against the omission of the article is rather evenly balanced, although on the whole the case... read more
Ephesians 2:19. Strangers and foreigners,— If there be any distinction between these two words, ξενοι and παροικοι, the latter signifies something more than the former, and seems plainly to allude to the case of sojourning strangers among the Jews, who were not incorporated by complete proselytism into the body of the Jewish people, and made, as such proselytes were, fellow-citizens, with equal privileges: and perhaps, when οικειοι του Θεου, domestics of God, is added, it may have some relation... read more
Ephesians 2:20. And are built upon the foundation, &c.— "And ye are still more closely united to Christ, and to the Father in him, not only as citizens to their supreme magistrate, and as children to their father; but as a building to its foundation, which is another figure under which the church of Christ may be considered in its relation to him (1 Peter 2:4-5.), who is a sure foundation, which God himself has laid in Zion, besides which no man can lay any other; but which is ministerially... read more
19. Now, therefore—rather, "So then" [ALFORD]. foreigners—rather, "sojourners"; opposed to "members of the household," as "strangers" is to "fellow citizens." Philippians 3:19; Philippians 3:20, "conversation," Greek, "citizenship." but—The oldest manuscripts add, "are." with the saints—"the commonwealth of (spiritual) Israel" (Philippians 3:20- :). of God—THE FATHER; as JESUS CHRIST appears in Philippians 3:20- :, and THE SPIRIT in Ephesians 2:22. read more
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
21. In whom—as holding together the whole. fitly framed—so as exactly to fit together. groweth—"is growing" continually. Here an additional thought is added to the image; the Church has the growth of a living organism, not the mere increase of a building. Compare :-; "lively stones . . . built up a spiritual house." Compare Ephesians 4:16; Zechariah 6:12, "The Branch shall build the temple of the Lord," where similarly the growth of a branch, and the building of a temple, are joined. holy—as... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Ephesians 2:20
And are = Having been. Compare Acts 20:32 . upon . App-104 . the foundation . . . prophets . The foundation laid by the apostles and prophets (compare Hebrews 2:3 , Hebrews 2:4 ; Hebrews 6:1 , Hebrews 6:2 ), or (2) the foundation of the apostles and prophets themselves, laid by God. foundation . Greek. themelios. See App-146 . apostles and prophets . App-189 . Jesus Christ . The texts re "Christ Jesus". App-98 . the . Omit. chief corner stone = foundation corner-stone. Greek. ... read more