And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Ver. 14. And the wall] A wall the Church hath about it, and a well within it, Revelation 21:6; "A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse a spring shut up, a fountain sealed," Song of Solomon 4:12. This wall of the Church hath twelve foundations, that is, Christ the only foundation, 1 Corinthians 3:11, laid by the twelve apostles; in whose names also the sum of Christian faith is made up in those twelve articles of the creed. Discessuri ab invicem Apostoli normam praedicationis in commune constituunt, saith Cyprian. (De Symbol. Apostol.) The apostles being to be severed into various countries to preach the gospel, agreed upon this as the sum and substance of their sermons. It was called Symbolum, a sign or badge, to distinguish Christians from unbelievers.
Had twelve foundations] Foundation is taken either for Christ, 1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 16:16, or for the doctrine of the apostles teaching salvation only by Jesus Christ, as Ephesians 2:20, and here. The Papists have lately added twelve new articles raised out of the Council of Trent, to be believed by as many as shall be saved; as above hath been noted.