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Daily Devotions

Ephesians

Ephesians 
Day 
Day 110

"Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone."

Text: Ephesians 2:20

THE IMAGERY OF FOUNDATIONS

Following up on the imagery of “the household of God” Paul naturally employed the concept of “foundations”. The idea of “foundations” is a very basic but powerful idea. Matthew cited the Lord Jesus employing this same idea in the conclusion of His Sermon on the Mount.

“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,
I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
MATTHEW 7:24

The wise man will surely build his house upon a rocky foundation. The foolish man, on the other hand, will not think very much about the foundations.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and
does not do them, will be like a foolish man who
built his house on the sand.”
MATTHEW 7:26

FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

What did Paul mean when he spoke of “the apostles and prophets” as the foundation. The following text will give much enlightenment.

1. With reference to “the prophets”

Paul consistently maintained that his teachings were drawn from the Old Testament Scriptures, of which the prophetic section formed a major portion. The term “prophets” could be used as a reference to the Scriptures as a whole. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote,

“Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,
separated to the Gospel of God, which He promised before
through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”
ROMANS 1:1-2

The direct relationship between the “prophets” and “the Holy Scriptures” is unmistakable. Paul argued that the concept of “the household of God” may be traced to the prophets.

2. With reference to “the apostles”

The apostles were especially appointed by the Lord Jesus Himself. These were given special authority and power. The message that the apostles proclaimed were to be received with due reverence. Paul commended the Thessalonians for having the right regard of the word when it was preached to them.

“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing,
because when you received the word of God which
you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word
of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which
also effectively works in you who believe.”
1 THESSALONIANS 2:13

If the prophets may be said to represent the Old Testament, then the apostles would represent the New Testament. Paul argued that the apostles were the equivalent of the prophets of the Old Testament era. The teachings of the prophets and the apostles together would form a very solid foundation for the theology of Christ’s redemptive work.