Ephesians 81-82_16a Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 1981-82 Corps Teachings. Lesson 13 Part 1: Ephesians 2:19-22
Format: AUDIO
Publication Date: 1981-82
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
EPHESIANS 2:19-22
February 3, 1982
Tonight we will cover the last four great verses of Ephesians chapter 2. Again as I open
this session of teaching these verses, I sit in utter amazement of the great truths of those
verses and how far below par many times we as Christians have lived. And of course, the
world never even thinks about it. They never even get close to it. But these verses again as
I was putting the finishing touches to them today, to be able to share it with the Corps
tonight, I just had chills running up and down my spine wondering when or if ever again
we will see in our lifetime the greatness of the Word to live in the fullness of what is ours
in Christ Jesus.
Verse 19 of Ephesians chapter 2, reads in the King James as follows:
Ephesians 2:19
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens
with the saints, and of the household of God;
I taught you either last week or the week before the strangers and foreigners stuff, and I
don’t want to go back into that again with the Corps. But I want to say to you that the
family is composed of all born-again believers. The household is composed of those bornagain
believers who faithfully continue to walk according to the Word. That’s what makes
the household. To me, it’s so easy to understand, I don’t see why you have any difficulty
with it or the people of the world, are Christian, but they seem to never get it straight on
family and household. But it’s real simple. I am Victor Paul Wierwille. That means I’m of
the household of the family of Wierwille. I belong to the Wierwille family. Now, as long
as I stay with that family of Wierwille’s and bless them and happy with them and
participate with them, join with them, I’m in the household. But let’s say that I would
decide by the freedom of my will I don’t want anything to do with the Wierwille
household, so I run off, pack my bags and leave. Am I still of the Wierwille family? {Yes.}
But I have just left what? {the household}. That’s how simple it is, people, in the Word of
God. When it talks about the family of God or whenever it talks about the household of
God, it’s exactly along the line that I’ve just shared with you. You understand? So keep it
straight and drive it in your mind and then teach it to people and show them how simple it
really is, because…shoot, you can be in the family and not be in the household. We’ve got
Corps grads that are in the family but not in the household because they have deliberately
done what? Split out from the Corps. They’ve deliberately not followed what the Corps
really stands for. Are they still born again? {Yes.} Oh definitely. But they are not of the
household of the Corps because they’ve busted out. It’s real simple.
Now this word “fellow citizens” in that verse 19, is really that we are citizens together
with the saints. It’s sort of a…well like, you have a country and you’re a citizen of that
country. God has a family, a household. And we are fellow citizens of that family and as
long as we walk upon the integrity and accuracy of the Word, of the what? Household. Got
it?
Now, take a look at Philippians. Flip over to Philippians, chapter 3. Shouldn’t have too
trouble finding it. It’s only about three pages, toward…further, toward the end. In 3:20 is a
wonderful verse of scripture that fits right in here. “For our conversation…”; the word
“conversation” is citizenship, in 3:20.
Philippians 3:20
For our [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
While we’re down here upon earth born again of God’s spirit, putting us into the
family staying faithful in the household of the family of God here upon earth, at this same
time we’re already citizens where? In heaven. We’re already there, as far as God is
concerned. That’s why we have all the privileges that appertain thereto and this is set in
distinction with resident aliens and slaves, strangers and foreigners. We already have all
the privileges pertaining to our citizenship in heaven. All we do is look for the savior, and
that’s the Return. And with the Return those who have stood faithful in the household, as
well as family of course, are all rewarded. But the rewards are of merit, not of grace.
Salvation is of grace, Corps. And those who stay faithful in the household will have many
more rewards than those who just belong to the family and cop out.
Most of the Christians today just do not envision or see the hope in the greatness of
which it’s written in the Word, the Return of Christ. They do not see it as the greatness of
the reward for the faithfulness with which you stand. And that is why I believe many times
the Corps, even, gets talked out of the greatness of the Corps after you graduate and you go
back to living a life which is far below the principles of the Corps. You’re still in the
family, but you’ve left the great household of the Corps because you do not really believe
in the Return of Christ and the rewards. It’s a mental thing. You say yes, he’s coming back,
we will be rewarded, but. The rewards are very important because as you stay faithful as
stewards of God on the Word of God in this life in which you live, you will be rewarded
throughout all eternity for your faithfulness of your stand. And people, I want to tell you,
eternity is a lot longer than the fifty, sixty, seventy years you’re going to have here upon
this earth. The Corps needs to see this. The Corps needs to first believe it and the Corps
needs to teach it because Christianity, even the best of them as I know them, do not really
believe and understand the rewards throughout all eternity.
Now “fellowcitizens with the saints”—Those words, “with the saints” are just so
tremendous. It means literally heaven’s…“heaven’s holiest of all”; “heaven’s holiest, of
all.” Heaven’s holiest of all—do you get those words? The angels are pretty holy. But this
is beyond angels. That the saints are the holiest; the saints are the holiest of all, beyond all
angels. Who’s ever dared to teach this? Who’s ever dared to believe it before? [taps twice].
That you, the born-again believers, sons of God, saints are the heaven’s holiest of all.
“...and of the household”; “of the household”—The Aramaic there is “sons of the
house.” “Of the household”—“of the household” is a mistranslation. Those words “of the
household” is a mistranslation. It literally says “you are the household.” You’re not simply
of it, you’re are it kids; you are it. You are the household.
If you’ve got a piece of paper and a pencil, I’ll give you the structure of this verse that I
think is real neat.
A. Now therefore
B. You are no longer
C. Strangers
D. Outside of the household
Now line up your next capital A under the top one that you just did. And if you don’t
know what I’m talking about, ask somebody this week and learn how to write this stuff: A,
B, C, D. Then “A” the second “A” is:
A. But
B. You are
C. Fellowcitizens with the saints
D. And of the household of God
Capital A in the first one is “now” what? “therefore.” Set aside with the word “But” of
capital A underneath it. See the structure of this thing? B—you are no longer; the other B
underneath it—you are. C at the top—strangers; C below it—fellowcitizens with the saints.
D—outside of the household; D—the household of God. That’s the structure.
Now, the literal translation according to usage of verse 19 is as follows: “Now then you
are no longer aliens or sojourners…”
Ephesians 2:19 Literal translation according to usage
Now then you are no longer aliens or sojourners on the contrary you share
full citizenship with every other saint and are the household of God.
Now the expanded translation of verse 19.
Ephesians 2:19 Expanded translation
From now on you Gentiles and Israel are no longer distant from the
household or just right next to it, but you are now citizens along with all the
other born-again believers, yes, heaven’s holiest, even sons, the household
of God.
Now verse 20. King James reads:
Ephesians 2:20
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ
himself being the chief corner stone;
The words “are built”—“And are built” literally mean “are being built,” or “being built
up.” And this Greek word here is from the word oikos (o-i-k-o-s), and the word demō (d-em-
o, long ō). The word oikos means “house,” Corps, and the word demō means to
construct. Are being built. Our…it’s like a house that’s being constructed. That’s why the
household is continuously, not continually, but continuously being built up.
“…upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets”—All of these words in the early
part of this verse like: are being built up…upon a foundation—they’re a figure of speech.
And the figure of speech is Hypocatastasis. We’ve given you this many times. Hypo, gets
you a shot; catastasis it’s where the believers are being compared to a building. Every
figure, Corps, every figure in Ephesians 19 and 22 in this chapter here that we’re covering
tonight, illuminates the truth and puts the “umph” into it that our position in the household
of God is compared to a building of which each one is an integral part. You see why God’s
heart gets so hurt and mine does when somebody splits out from the household? Because
every member of the household is an integral part of the whole building. If I would be
God, I’d give up on us, but thank God that He’s God. Evidently He’s got a few people that
will love Him through these years they live and throughout eternity, they’ll be blessed. But
boy [taps three times], you just never walk away from the household. If it doesn’t suit you,
you still stay in the household. It didn’t always suit me when my daddy called the shots in
our family. But you know, I never packed my bags and ran off from the Wierwille’s, never
left the household. Felt like it at times, but I never did. Likewise with God, people. Look at
the greatness of this. The household of God. Everybody is an integral part of it, even if you
don’t feel like it, you are. Has nothing to do with your feeling, has everything to do with
your faithfulness. Just stay put, and as you stay put, then God begins to reveal to you, and
make known things to you, how you fit, where it will work for you and how to work.
“Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone”—Yeah…the words “Jesus Christ”
are reversed in many of the texts and manuscripts, and they ought to be. It should read
“Christ Jesus,” because Jesus Christ deals with…basically with humanity side; Christ Jesus
with his glorified side. And in this verse you’re not dealing with his humanity side, you’re
dealing with his glorified side. That’s why I know it should go “Christ Jesus.”
Now the words “the chief corner stone”—There’s been a lot of confusion about that
one. Tonight I’ll try to get all the confusion out if I can for you. To me it’s real simple.
In 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter 2 is the only other place it’s used. And just having two
places where it’s used makes it unique in so many ways. Far as I’m concerned establishes
it, but you have nothing else to fall back on. Greek literature is blank on this stuff, you
know, profane literature, secular stuff.
This verse in 1 Peter chapter 2, verse 6 reads:
1 Peter 2:6
Wherefore also it is contained in the [scriptures], Behold, I lay in Sion a
chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him [that chief
corner stone] shall not be confounded [flabbergasted or put to shame].
The Greek word in Ephesians for “chief corner” because the word “stone” is not in
Ephesians but it is in 1 Peter, the word in Ephesians chapter 2, verse 20 is the Greek word
spelled a-k-r-o-g-o-n-i-a-i-o-s. The Aramaic words are two words in the Aramaic for “chief
corner.” And these Aramaic words are spelled r-y-s (and above the “s” when you’re
writing Aramaic, you have to put a little “v” on top of the…the “s”). The other Aramaic
word is spelled q-r-n…n…m-n…n {audience laughter}. And behind the “n”…at the top of
the “n”…behind the “n” is like, a comma. That’s the way the Aramaic is written. Those
words in the Aramaic mean head, chief or correct angle; correct angle. The reason the
people who do not understand Aramaic or don’t put their hearts and souls into it or believe
in the great integrity of God’s Word have really had problems with this is because there’s
nothing in Greek that equals the Eastern culture of this wor…of this…of these words in
this text. You’ve got to go back to Eastern culture to understand the corner stone. That’s
why the Greeks haven’t understood it, because many times, kids, in Greek and Roman
architecture it’s been a keystone (it’s been a keystone) that ties the building together or the
arches, the Roman arches together. It’s a keystone. This is not a keystone. This is a corner.
It is what I told you about the angle; it’s the correct angle stone. In Eastern culture, and the
Bible was originally written in Aramaic, that’s why again this is a great proof that the
Bible was written in Aramaic—what I’m just sharing with you now, because in Eastern
culture, Corps, the corner stone was considered of greater importance than even the
foundation.
If you’ll just sit and think for a moment of a picture, get a picture in your mind of
something underground, let’s say a big hole in the ground. And then in that ground is a
foundation and it’s built up solid underneath, solid, all the way up to the top of the ground.
That’s the word “foundation.”
Now, the “chief corner” or the correct angle stone, is the one that’s above ground
sitting on top of that foundation that I’ve just described to you, and that particular chief
corner, that correct angle stone, does four things (among others maybe, but I know it does
four things):
1. It connects and concentrates on itself the whole building.
2. It fixes a standard for the bearing of the walls and the cross walls throughout the
whole building.
3. The visible construction for the entire building begins at this corner.
You see why the Aramaic is so tremendous? Head, chief or corner angle? Architecturally,
these words are just phenomenal, because here’s the foundation, and then there’s the chief
corner. There is the…that stone that’s the correct angle which fixes the standard for the
bearing of all the walls inside as well as outside, all those stones take off from that correct
angle. Everything starts from that corner in the building of the building. And in the fourth
place:
4. The corner, the chief corner, or the corner stone or that angle stone, is visible above
ground and it’s prominent.
You have seen buildings in our day and time where this essence…the essence of these
truths are somewhat similar but not nearly as great as the greatness of the Word is here.
But they’ll lay a foundation and then they’ll put a corner stone there, and in the corner
stone they do some writing on the outside, you can read it. Sometimes they even put (uh,
what do you call it?)…things of importance in the corner stone. That is still a carry-over
from the greatness of Eastern culture, but Ephesians 2:20 is far beyond it. They don’t take
the angle off of that corner stone. Here it’s the angle stone. Every other stone in the whole
building outside and inside, lines up with that corner stone. That’s why architecturally,
kids, this thing is just phenomenal. For you architects in the Corps and in the ministry, this
must be electrifying to you. It must turn you on.
The Research Department handed this information to me, which I want to read to you,
which I think is tremendous: In Ephesians the foundation is the Old Testament prophets
and Gospel apostles and Jesus Christ is the corner stone, the first stone laid above
ground…above grade or above ground, so one of the great characteristics of Jesus Christ in
the Body of the Church is that he is visible and prominent. The construction of the entire
building begins at this corner, because the angle fixed by this stone sets the angle for the
rest of the stones. That’s why, Corps, the scripture says Jesus Christ is our brother, because
it sets the angle.
That wek…Greek word that I gave you is the primary foundation stone at the angle of
the structure by which the architect fixes a standard for the bearings of the walls and the
cross walls throughout. This is from W.W. Lloyd and that’s the usage of that word.
It is thrilling to each believer to see the part that he has in the mighty spiritual edifice
that far surpasses in splendor any building constructed of the temporal physical materials
of the world. That’s the household. Every believer, he is in this spiritual edifice as God
placed him. There’s a scripture to that effect some place. Every person has been placed and
all according to the great angle of the corner stone. That spiritual perfection, kids, of the
household of God has not been taught for centuries nor understood or believed.
While I’m teaching you the greatness of this corner stone, chief corner, right angle,
perfect angle stone, there is a place in Corinthians we’ve got to look at.
1 Corinthians, chapter 3. How many of you people in the college and the Corps up here
tonight have been in engineering classes and so forth and so on, huh? Boy that’s
tremendous. See, this thing must really turn you on. It’s got to be great; it is great.
1 Corinthians, chapter 3. I think I will start with verse 6. Paul says:
1 Corinthians 3:6-7a
6 I…planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So…neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth;
That’s not quite true; it is important to plant and to water. But a greater important…
importance is:
1 Corinthians 3:7b-8a
7 …God [who has to give] the increase.
8 he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive
his own reward…
There it is, rewards, and rewards are not given out until the bēma, the Return, after the
return of Christ or with the return of it.
1 Corinthians 3:8b
…according to his own labour [his own work].
Now look at verse 9.
1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are labourers together with [whom?] {God:}
Not when we split out of the household and start doing our own thing. You have the
freedom to do it, but you are no longer a labourer together with God no matter how you
rationalize and everything else. You’re God’s field, God’s building, and God’s building
has to be keyed in right.
1 Corinthians 3:10a
According to the grace of God which is given unto me,…a wise
masterbuilder, I [Paul says] have laid the foundation,…
And he built the foundation or he laid the foundation by teaching people the integrity
and accuracy of the Word, and then others who follow, do what? Build upon the integrity
and accuracy of that Word. See, this isn’t quite the same usage here as the one in
Ephesians. This deals with the laying of a foundation by the teaching of the Word. The one
in Ephesians deals with the foundation that was laid by…from the beginning of time
throughout the Old Testament, the prophets, even including John the Baptist, then the New
Testament apostles. That’s the foundation with Jesus Christ, the corner stone, the right
angle, the perfect angle stone. Here we’re talking about the greatness of the Word.
1 Corinthians 3:10b
…another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he [builds]…
How he builds, to get the angle right. Don’t you see it? For the next verse says this:
I Corinthians 3:11
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is [what?] Jesus
Christ.
Again it’s inverted, Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus is that corner stone, Corps, and all the
take-off for the building has to line up with that corner stone. All the teaching of the Word
has to line up with that chief corner stone, and it’s the foundation of the Word that’s laid
here, and the foundation of the Word must be in alignment and harmony with the chief
corner stone, Corps.
Verse 12 says, if any man…:
1 Corinthians 3:12
Now if any man build upon this foundation…
Not upon this foundation of Jesus Christ, but upon this foundation of gold. You build
upon a foundation of “gold, silver, precious stones,…” all that stuff. It won’t stand. It
won’t stand.
But in verse 14:
1 Corinthians 3:14 (not KVJ)
If any man’s work abide built upon the chief corner stone, that man is going
to receive [what?] {rewards.}
The rest of them it’s just all going to be duck soup, burned up, no prize…profit. And
all of this then brings you to verse 16, where it talks about we being the Temple of God.
Now the literal translation of this fantastic verse, kids. Verse 20.
Ephesians 2:20 Literal translation according to usage
And being continuously built upon the foundation of the prophets and
apostles the head of the corner Christ Jesus himself.
The expanded translation is:
Ephesians 2:20a Expanded translation
And the household is continuously being constructed upon…
Wanna bring me some coffee, please. That’s not in the text {audience laughter}.
Ephesians 2:20b Expanded translation
…being constructed upon the foundation of the prophets of the Old
Testament including John the Baptist and the apostles of the Gospel period
and he Christ Jesus himself became to all of us the head of the corner the
chief corner stone.
Boy that’s something: and he Christ Jesus himself became to all of us the head of the
corner the chief corner stone. Now verse 21 in King James reads:
Ephesians 2:21
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple
in the Lord:
“In whom all the building”—Right there you immediately know it has to be a figure of
speech and again it’s that fis…figure of speech, Hypocatastasis, where the main idea is not
stated, and the main idea is the Church of the Body, which is being compared to a building.
That’s why it’s the figure.
“…fitly framed together”—The Aramaic here…the Aramaic word here is spelled m-tr-
k-b, and it’s very accurate, translated “is being fit together.”
I think I’ll give you the long Greek word just to make you work {audience laughter},
because I’m going to have to compare this word with something else in a minute and you
wouldn’t be able to put it all together in your head nor on your paper nor in the future,
but…so I’d better give it to you. The Greek word for “fitly framed together” is spelled,
s-u-n, sun, that means together, s-u-n means together; a-r-m-o-l-o, and the root of that
word is the word harmos, h-a-r-m-o-s, which means joints. Then the big, long word
continues, g-o-u-m-e-n-e (long ē at the end). The whole word again is spelled s-u-n-a-r-mo-
l-o-g-o-u-m-e-n-e (long ē). The last part of that word, you know, logoumenē is from the
word legō, means to lay, l-a-y. It means lay joints together. See? Now if you’ve got the
picture of that corner stone that I described to you and this Greek word here where they are
laid together, in my mind I get a picture of a jig saw puzzle or something where everything
is just laid together perfectly. Little bigger and more accurate in the Word than in a jig saw
puzzle, but that’s it in my mind. Being fit together. Here’s the chief corner stone, the
perfect angle, the chief angle, and everything laid right in there and fit all the way through.
That’s the household.
In Ephesians 4, take a look at this now because I will put this together for you. Talking
about the body here, the church. From whom, 16.
Ephesians 4:16a
From whom the whole body…
See the head is Christ in verse 15. Got it? Chief cornerstone. “From whom”—from, in
the direction of, from him.
Ephesians 4:16b
…the whole body fitly joined together and compacted…
“Fitly joined together” in this verse is this word that I just gave you the long Greek
word of, sunarmolog…logeō, that’s fitly joined together. But the word “compacted” is a
Greek word that is spelled s-u-m-b-i-b-a-z-o.
So it’s fitly framed together, you know, according to the chief corner stone everything
put in and compacted. Compacted is the joining together of those parts. Perhaps a word
that would communicate to you is cemented together, glued together. How’s that?
These two words together here show that the framing…the framing is still in progress.
And a beautiful understanding here is of the translation would be “harmoniously fitted.”
Another word is one that is used in music for the word “symphony” comes from the word,
symph…“symphonized.” These…all of these stones are symphonized, harmoniously fitted.
Great musical term. They’re all in symphony, perfect harmony. So get a picture in your
mind, Corps, of the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ, and every individual laid out, fitted or
framed harmoniously and then joined together…joined together. Joined together that there
is to be no separation, no pulling apart, cemented, glued, whatever puts it in your head
[taps several times on desk]. That’s Ephesians 4.
So here in Ephesians 2:20 (21 rather), we’re talking about the building from the point
of view that it’s fitly framed together, everything is placed right in line with the chief
angle, the chief corner stone, and then it keeps growing.
“…groweth”—The Aramaic word is translated “and is growing.” This word here in
Aramaic is spelled w-r-b (with the comma at the top of b), and that word in the Aramaic is
used of plants as they grow, children as they grow, used of believing as it grows in
believers, used of the Word as it grows in a believer, and of all things that are growing. It’s
different from the word “multiply.” And from this word of course comes that Greek word
that Craig handles so beautifully in his teaching in Acts, auxanō, growing.
It “growth unto an holy temple”—See the Body of the chur…of, of, of, of Christ, the
Church, is here compared to a temple. The temple, Corps, is never used of an individual
believer in the Bible. The temple is always used of the Body of believers. That’s why Old
Testament when all the body of Israel met, it was where? At the temple in Jerusalem. But
in their little locations, in their own little communities, they would have synagogues, not
temples. The people would go to the synagogue, but when the whole body of Israel, the
whole col…so-called believers met, all of Israel met, it was at the temple. That’s why
Jesus Christ called the temple the house of prayer.
The word “tabernacle” or the word “tent” is always used of the individual believer. The
individual believer is a tabernacle, but all the believers put together are the temple. This
“groweth unto an holy temple,” and this whole truth indicates for the Body of the Church,
Body of Christ, the Church, that this temple is the dwelling place of God. So people,
honestly from God’s Word, when you split out from the household, you have just walked
away from the dwelling place of God. When they split out from the temple, they had
walked away from the place of the Old Testament where the Shekinah glory was, God.
Again this word “temple” is a figure of speech, Hypocatastasis. The idea is the Church
of the Body, Christ, the Church…the Body of Christ, the Church, and that’s replaced by
the picture of the temple. And people, that to me is electrifying understanding Old
Testament why God allowed the temple to be built, why He was in the holy of holies
above the altar, the Shekinah glory, the cherubims that stood there, all of that I see in my
mind when I see the Church called the temple. And whenever men walked away from that
temple, they walked away from the dwelling place of God, for God had said I will be there.
The words “in the Lord” of verse 21 indicates sold-out commitment, a doulos, as
opposed to “in Christ.” It’s not the words “in Christ.” “In Christ” means fellowship. Christ
in you is the new birth. “In the Lord” means he is your lord, he is your master. He is party
of the first part, second part, third part, and every part that you take the orders from. He is
your lord. You see, the chief corner stone, Jesus Christ is our lord. God was the lord to
Jesus Christ.
The literal translation of verse 21, according to usage is: “And in him all the
building”—you made pretty good coffee tonight, you kids ought to sample it {audience
laughter}. You’re in favor of that, huh?
Ephesians 2:21 Literal translation according to usage
And in him all the building is harmoniously framed together and grows into
the holy temple of the lord.
And here’s the expanded one, not too much expanded.
Ephesians 2:21 Expanded translation
And in him was being fitted together all his building and is growing into the
holy temple in the lord.
And now we come to the great wrap up of this second chapter in this verse 22, King
James it reads:
Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the
Spirit.
“In whom ye also are builded together”—The Aramaic is “are being built,” same as
I’ve taught you previously. Couldn’t be any other way. It isn’t already built. It’s being built
every day as people are born again of God’s spirit, they’re in the family, then they become
a part of the household. It is being what? Built. And this is being built up by God. One may
plant, another wonder…uh water, but God has to do what? {increase}. Right. Because
every time somebody plants and waters, there has to be the miracle of the new birth, which
takes God to create life within you, spirit life, Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This again comes from the Greek word oikos and demō. Oikos means house; demō
means to construct, builded together, the house constructed together. Again the figure of
speech, Hypocatastasis, the main idea is the Church of the Body, Christ, and it’s being
compared to a house or temple. That’s why…that’s the “umph” in this verse, the figure
again.
“…for an habitation of God”—The Aramaic is “for a dwelling for God.” Boy, when
you see that in the light of oikos house, well what’s a house really all about? It’s a place
where, it’s a dwelling, and in the bigness of the usage of the words here in the text, it is a
place where you settle down. A house is where you take your shoes off, put your nighties
on, your p.j.’s, where you settle down. Are builded together as an habitation of God, where
you settle down. You’re not condemned, you’re not worried, you’re not nervous, you’re
not biting your fingernails up to the second knuckle. You’re settled down, you’re at rest,
you’re at peace. God settles down in the temple, the Body of Christ. It is God settling
down in the temple and we being that temple, we are with Him in His habitation. Don’t
you understand? [Taps desk twice.] Boy.
We are God’s dwelling place when we’re in the household. God is in that household
like in the Old Testament, He was present at the temple. Before they had that, He was the
cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night. Wherever His people were, that’s where He
was. And as they were traveling along, He was the Ark of the Covenant. Wherever that
was, God was there. Boy, kids, someday somebody’s got to see this, that the household is
so important. Man, if you break your leg you don’t leave the household. If somebody isn’t
quite what you think they ought to be in the household, you don’t leave the household. If
you do [taps], you cut yourself [taps] off from the dwelling place [taps] of the truth [taps]
of God and His presence [taps], people. Somebody’s just got to stay in the household, for
it’s the household where the truth will continue to go and grow, grow and go. It’s the
household [taps] that’s the temple [taps several times], that’s the habitation where God
dwells according to the revelation of God’s Word. And ladies and gentlemen, if you know
more than what the Word says [hands drop on desk], God have mercy on you, you’ll need
it.
Here’s the literal translation of this verse: In which ye…In which even you (That’s
what I want to say.)
Ephesians 2:22a Literal translation according to usage
In which even you…
And I love that: EVEN YOU {audience laughter}.
Ephesians 2:22b Literal translation according to usage
…are being built together into a permanent [a permanent] dwelling place of
God spiritually.
The expanded is not so expanded.
Ephesians 2:22 Expanded translation
Even you also who are in him are being built for a habitation of God spiritually.
I would like to close this Corps meeting tonight by reading you the expanded
translations that I did beginning with verse 18 preceding the verse that I started with
tonight to set the whole stage for you.
Ephesians 2:18-22 Expanded translation
18 Because by what Jesus Christ did, both Gentiles and Israel have the
privilege of standing before God, being ushered in by Jesus Christ, because
of the new birth, directly to the Father.
19 From now on, you Gentiles and Israel are no longer distant from the
household or just right next to it, but you are now citizens along with all the
other born-again believers, yes, heaven’s holiest, even sons, the household
of God.
20 And the household is continuously being constructed upon the foundation
of the prophets of the Old Testament, including John the Baptist and the
apostles of the Gospel period, and he, Christ Jesus himself, became to all of
us the head of the corner, the chief cornerstone.
21 And in him was being fitted together all this building and is growing into
the holy temple in the Lord.
22 Even you also who are in him are being built for a habitation of God
spiritually.
That Corps [taps twice], is the end of chapter two of the great Book of Ephesians