Hi kepha,
Thanks for your reply. I want to correct your impression that Axehead had not quoted Eph 2:20, with this corrected quote:
Here's Young's Literal Translation. I've altered the order of the words to reflect Axehead's research:
Ephesians 2:19 Then, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but of the saints' fellow-citizens, and of God's household, 20 being built upon Jesus Christ, the apostles' and prophets' foundation, himself being chief corner-[stone], 21 in whom all the building fitly framed together increases to an holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom also ye are builded together, for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
There is nothing about the apostles and prophets being the foundation.
Thanks for your reply. I want to correct your impression that Axehead had not quoted Eph 2:20, with this corrected quote:
Eph 2:19-22 presents the church as "the household of God," a "holy temple" and a "habitation of God." And in the same verses he presents this body of people as "being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone..."
"Foundation of the apostles and prophets" - the "of" is genitive of possession not locative of position.
In other words, Jesus was Paul's foundation, and Peter's foundation and John's and James' and Andrew's and all the other apostles.
The apostles are not part of the foundation!
The Holy Spirit is saying the "apostles' and prophets' foundation (which is Jesus Christ)".
When Paul presented the foundation claimed by all the apostles and prophets - then as an appositive statement he explains who that foundation is: it is "Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone."
Here's Young's Literal Translation. I've altered the order of the words to reflect Axehead's research:
Ephesians 2:19 Then, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but of the saints' fellow-citizens, and of God's household, 20 being built upon Jesus Christ, the apostles' and prophets' foundation, himself being chief corner-[stone], 21 in whom all the building fitly framed together increases to an holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom also ye are builded together, for a habitation of God in the Spirit.
There is nothing about the apostles and prophets being the foundation.