I really think we need to look at descriptors used when the temple that God is building is described.
Jesus is called a cornerstone.
Apostles/Prophets are called foundation.
Evangelists, pastors, teachers, are not given any type of description like cornerstone or foundation.
Jesus being called a cornerstone indicates it's a once and for all thing.
We won't be looking for any more Jesuses.
One shot deal.
THE cornerstone of the temple.
A building only has one cornerstone.
Apostles/prophets are considered foundation in that temple.
That like the cornerstone, indicates it's a one time, not continued thing.
Evangelists, pastors, teachers on the other hand, are not given a once and for all descriptor such as cornerstone, or foundation, which indicates it's not a one time happening, but continues.
Evangelists, pastors, teachers, proclaim the once and for all work of Jesus the cornerstone, and they rely on the once and for all teaching of the apostles/prophets foundation.
Jesus is the cornerstone, and apostles/prophets are foundation, because they form the basis of the work which evangelists, pastors, teachers carryout.
Eph 2
[SUP]18 [/SUP]For through him we both haveaccess in one Spirit to the Father.[SUP]19 [/SUP]So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[SUP][d][/SUP] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,[SUP]20 [/SUP]built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,[SUP]21 [/SUP]in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.[SUP]22 [/SUP]In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[SUP][e][/SUP] the Spirit.
Eph 4
[SUP]10 [/SUP]He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) [SUP]11 [/SUP]And he gave the apostles, the prophets, theevangelists, the shepherds[SUP][c][/SUP] and teachers,[SUP][d][/SUP] [SUP]12 [/SUP]to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, [SUP]13 [/SUP]until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[SUP][e][/SUP] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, [SUP]14 [/SUP]so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
