2:20a

foundation of the apostles and prophets: There are different views about the meaning of this phrase. This phrase could mean that:

(1) the foundation is composed of the apostles and prophets. For example:

You are like a building with the apostles and prophets as the foundation (Contemporary English Version)

(Contemporary English Version, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

(2) the foundation has been laid by the apostles and prophets. This means that the work that the apostles and prophets did is the foundation. For example:

You, too, are built upon the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets (Good News Translation)

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). Most English versions translate the Greek literally, and it is not possible to tell which interpretation they follow. In some languages, a literal translation would mean that the apostles and prophets owned the foundations, so be careful to avoid such a meaning.

foundation: In New Testament times the houses were built on rocks to make them solid. These rocks were called the foundation. If your language has no word for foundation, you may need to say something like this:

rocks that they build the house on

apostles: The apostles are the twelve disciples plus Paul and perhaps a few other men. See how you translated “apostle” in 1:1b. See apostle in the Glossary if you want more information.

prophets: In this context, prophets were people in the church to whom God gave a spiritual gift. This gift enabled the person to speak a message from God. Most commentators think that the prophets Paul was talking about were New Testament prophets rather than Old Testament prophets. (See Acts 13:1, Ephesians 3:5, Ephesians 4:11.)

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

spokesmen for God
-or-
men who speak God’s words
-or-
God’s message-speakers

See prophet in the Glossary for more information.

2:20b

cornerstone: The Greek word the Berean Standard Bible translates as cornerstone was the largest and most important stone in the building. It was a large stone placed in the corner of the foundation. It made the building solid and helped hold the foundation and walls together.

If your readers will not understand a word like cornerstone, you may need to use a word for the most important part of your buildings. For example:

the most important stone (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the central post ⌊of the house⌋

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