Ephesians 2:21
in Ephesians 2In Him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
in whom each several building, fitly framed together, groweth into a holy temple in the Lord;
KJV
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
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This verse in Ephesians 2
Commentary
12 notes on this verseIt is maintained by some that the whole edifice built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets comprises not only human souls but also angelic powers, so that all equally will become the abode of God. They argue that it would be absurd if angels and all the blessed forces who serve God in heaven would have no part in this blessedness. For in this is a building, put together harmoniously, that is growing into a holy temple of God to be an abode of God in the Spirit.
This site's exposition
fitly framed together
on Ephesians 2:21-22
The building is alive: fitly framed together, it groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, masonry described with a plant's verb. The temple thread the Old Testament program traced from tabernacle to Solomon's house arrives at a sanctuary built of persons, and ye also are builded together names the Ephesian Gentiles as stones in it. The end of the sentence is the end of the story: an habitation of God through the Spirit.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
He called this stone a cornerstone not merely because it is at the corner but because it is the first and most important stone. From it begins the foundation of the corner which joins and couples two things to make them one. Souls above already …
A commentator
Gaius Marius VictorinusEPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.2.21-22 · Written before 370.
proposed
All souls made spiritual through Christ are joined and built up into a holy temple, where God dwells. As Christ is in all and God in Christ, all are a temple of God through Christ.
Mark, how he knits it all together, and represents Him at one time, as holding down the whole body from above, and welding it together; at another time, as supporting the building from below, and being, as it were, a root, or base. And whereas he had used the expression, "He created in Himself of the twain one new man;" by this he clearly shows us, that by Himself Christ knits together the two walls: and again, that in Him it was created. And "He is the first-born," saith he, "of all creation," that is, He Himself supports all things. Whether you speak of the roof, or of the walls, or of any other part whatsoever, He it is supports the whole. Thus he elsewhere calls Him a foundation. "For other foundations," saith he, "can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." "In whom each several building," he saith, "fitly framed together." Here he displays the perfectness of it, and indicates that one cannot otherwise have place in it, unless by living with great exactness.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Next, he treats of the building's construction. In erecting any building four stages are requisite. First is the foundation of the edifice, second is the construction, third its increase, and fourth is the completion. He briefly touches on these. In saying "in whom" he designates …
On the cornerstone, he says, that is Christ, the entire building — namely all believers, joined organically and inseparably — grows and is filled up, so as to become temples of God. "And I will set My dwelling among you," He says, "and will walk …
5 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The universal church being built upon Christ as the foundation-stone, and united in Christ as the corner-stone, comes at length to be glorified in him as the top-stone: In whom you also are built together, &c.,
In whom all the building fitly framed together,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
In whom - That is, “by” whom, or “upon” whom. It was in connection with him, or by being reared on him as a foundation. All the building - The whole church of Christ. Fitly framed together - The word used here means “to joint together,” as a carpenter does the frame-work of a building. The materials are accurately and carefully united by mortises and tenons. so that the building shall be firm.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
So "in the Lord" (Christ) answers to "through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22; compare Eph 3:16, 17). "Christ is the inclusive Head of all the building, the element in which it has its being and now its growth" [ALFORD].
In whom - By which foundation corner stone, Christ Jesus, all the building, composed of converted Jews and Gentiles, fitly framed together, συναρμολογουμενη, properly jointed and connected together, groweth unto a holy temple - is continually increasing, as new converts from Judaism or heathenism flock into it. It is not a finished building, but will continue to increase, and be more and more perfect, till the day of judgment.
The words behind it
11 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ᾧ | ho | whom | G3739 → | 1405 times |
| πᾶσα | pasa | [the] whole | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| οἰκοδομὴ | oikodome | building | G3619 → | 18 times |
| συναρμολογουμένη | sunarmologoumene | being fitted together | G4883 → | |
| αὔξει | auxei | is increasing | G837 → | |
| εἰς | eis | into | G1519 → | 1755 times |
| ναὸν | naon | a temple | G3485 → | |
| ἅγιον | hagion | holy | G40 → | 220 times |
| ἐν | en | in | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| κυρίῳ, | kurio | [the] Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
ᾧwhom
hoG3739 →1405 times
πᾶσα[the] whole
pasaG3956 →1235 times
οἰκοδομὴbuilding
oikodomeG3619 →18 times
συναρμολογουμένηbeing fitted together
sunarmologoumeneG4883 →
αὔξειis increasing
auxeiG837 →
εἰςinto
eisG1519 →1755 times
ναὸνa temple
naonG3485 →
ἅγιονholy
hagionG40 →220 times
ἐνin
enG1722 →2738 times
κυρίῳ,[the] Lord,
kurioG2962 →711 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Corinthians 6:16What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and…
it leads to
- Revelation 21:3
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will…
- Exodus 29:45
Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God.
- Hebrews 8:10
For this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put My laws in their minds and inscribe them on their hearts. And…
- Leviticus 26:12
I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people.
- Jeremiah 32:38
They will be My people, and I will be their God.
- Revelation 21:3
Through
1 Corinthians 3:9For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.
it leads to
- 1 Peter 2:5
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Ephesians 2:20–22
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
- 2 Corinthians 6:1
As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.
- 1 Peter 2:5
Where this verse is studied
About Ephesians
This page draws on 12 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.2.20; Gaius Marius Victorinus, EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS 1.2.21-22; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, Commentary on Ephesians 2:1-5; John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 6; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Ephesians and Thomas Aquinas, Commentary on Ephesians.