In this passage from Ephesians and elsewhere in the Bible, the Apostles are recognised as the foundations of the Church. Some Christians accept this notion and sometimes rather contentiously affirm that only Jesus Christ is the foundation. This way of speaking takes the metaphor of a building too literally.

A building must indeed have a firm foundation. Apart from the foundations, and the style of the building, a good and well-placed "capstone" or "keystone" is necessary.

Thus, "the whole structure is fitted together and takes shape", as Ephesians says. The affirmation that Jesus is the "keystone" is firmly established in the New Testament. Though the keystone is not usually a part of the foundations of a building, the two doctrines do not contradict each other.

We honour the Apostles as the human "foundations" on which Jesus built his Church. There is no real Church unless there is an indisputable link with the Apostles and their successors, the pope and the bishops who are ordained into union with Him as the successor of Peter.