And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
х Epoikodomeethentes (G2026), 'built up upon,' etc.; having been built up upon: omit "and are."] Compare 1 Corinthians 3:11-12. The same image, in Ephesians 3:17, recurs in his address to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:32), and in his letter to Timothy at Ephesus (1 Timothy 3:15; 2 Timothy 2:19), naturally suggested by the splendid temple of Diana. The glory of the Christian temple is internal; not mere idolatrous gaud. The image is appropriate also to the Jew-Christians, as the temple at Jerusalem was the stronghold of Judaism.
Foundation of the apostles ... - i:e., upon their preaching (cf. Matthew 16:18). Christ Himself, the only Foundation, was the subject of their ministry and spring of their fife. As one with Him, His twelve fellow-workers, in a secondary sense, are "foundations" (Revelation 21:14). So Christ is THE living Stone; believers, living stones, by their union with Him (1 Peter 2:4-5). The "prophets" are joined with them; for it is not 'foundations of the apostles and the prophets,' but "foundation of the apostles and prophets." For the doctrine of both was one (1 Peter 1:10-11; Revelation 19:10). The apostles take the precedency (Luke 10:24). "The prophets" represent the old Jewish dispensation; "the apostles," the new. The "prophets" of the new also are included. Alford refers it solely to these. Ephesians 3:5; Ephesians 4:11 imply that the New Testament prophets are not excluded; but the apostle's reference to Psalms 118:22, "the head stone of the corner," proves that the Old Testament prophets are prominent.
David was a "prophet" (Acts 2:30). Compare also Isaiah 28:16. Both lean on the earlier prophecy of Jacob (Genesis 49:24). The context suits this: Ye were once aliens from the commonwealth of Israel (under her Old Testament prophets), but now ye are members of the true Israel, built upon the foundation of her New Testament apostles and Old Testament prophets. The one Greek article to both implies their close union. Paul identifies his teaching with that of Israel's old prophets (Acts 26:22; Acts 28:23). The costly foundation stones of the temple (1 Kings 5:17) were the type (cf. Jeremiah 51:26). Christ "Himself," none else, is at once the Corner Stone and the Foundation on which the whole building rests. Paul supposes a rock so large and so fashioned as to be both at once supporting the whole as the foundation and in part rising up at the extremities, so that the side walls are united in it as the corner stone (Zanchius). Piazzi Smith suggests the topmost angle of the pyramid, 'HEAD of the corner,' in which all meet (Zechariah 4:7). It is conspicuous; and, coming in men's way, may be stumbled over, as the Jews did at Christ (Psalms 118:22; Matthew 21:42; 1 Peter 2:6-7).