Ephesians 2:20 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

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 laid both by my preaching (1 Corinthians 3:10-11.), and by the doctrine of the twelve apostles, as master-builders, under Christ, in the New-Testament dispensation (Revelation 21:14.); as it also has been in the writings of the ancient prophets (Psalms 118:22.Isaiah 28:16.), which testified of Christ (John 5:39.). The doctrine of all these is in substance the same, with regard to salvation and eternal life by Jesus Christ, who is not only the rock, on which he has built his church (Matthew 16:18.); but is also the principal corner-stone,whichunites,holds,andbindstogetherbothbelievingJewsandGentiles in himself as one church, and gives strength, solidity, and beauty to the whole spiritual edifice that is erected upon him." The heads of Israel, who bore the weight of government, are called the chief, and the stay, or, as it is in the Hebrew, פנות, the corners of the people (1 Samuel 14:38. Isaiah 19:13.); accordingly Christ is called the chief corner-stone and the head-stone of the corner (Psalms 118:22.), because the church depends as entirely upon him as its foundation, when considered in allusion to a house or building, as it does upon him as its head, when considered in allusion to a natural or political body.