14. twelve foundations--Joshua, the type of Jesus, chose twelve
men out of the people, to carry twelve stones over the Jordan with
them, as Jesus chose twelve apostles to be the twelve foundations of
the heavenly city, of which He is Himself the Chief corner-stone. Peter
is not the only apostolic rock on whose preaching Christ builds His
Church. Christ Himself is the true foundation: the twelve are
foundations only in regard to their apostolic testimony concerning Him.
Though Paul was an apostle besides the twelve, yet the mystical number
is retained, twelve representing the Church, namely thirty the divine
number, multiplied by four, the world number.
in them the names, &c.--As architects often have their names
inscribed on their great works, so the names of the apostles shall be
held in everlasting remembrance. Vulgate reads, "in
them." But A, B, Syriac, Coptic, and
ANDREAS read, "upon them." These
authorities also insert "twelve" before "names."
JFB.
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