2:20
This household is built on the foundation of the “apostles and prophets”. Apostles here refers to the likes of Peter, John and Paul. God entrusted them with the message of the gospel, and they preached the gospel and established churches on the basis of the gospel. Prophets could be New Testament prophets, but we are actually given very little information on what they did, certainly no detailed information on what they said or taught. Or it could refer to the Old Testament prophets. We do, of course, know in great detail what they said, and they were pointing the way forward to Christ. 1 Peter 1:10-12 would tend to favour this latter interpretation. And Christ is the chief cornerstone. Everything centres around Jesus and hinges on Him. If a false teaching comes in you will find that it removes Christ from the central place that Scripture gives Him.
2:21
Everything is built around Jesus and in Jesus. The “whole building” is joined together in Him. Christ alone is the one who holds everything together, He is the source of our unity, and He alone is the source of our unity. If we seek affirmation or identity in anything else then we are are going in the wrong direction. The Jews at the time had the temple in Jerusalem to look to, but it would soon be destroyed. The true temple is the church built with Christ as its foundation, and infused by Him in every aspect of its being.
2:22
The church is not something that has been built, but something that is being built. Jesus said “I will build my church” (Matt 16:18). And He is not building lots of little churches, but one church. And we are being built as a dwelling in which God lives. We are to be the home of God! God’s purpose is that He dwells with His people and we dwell with Him.
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