What does Ephesians 2:20 mean?

[yogosans14]

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Protestants use this to say Peter wasn’t the first pope. What is the Catholic view on this scripture?

 

[FooFee]

usccb.org/bible/ephesians/2/
Here’s a good start.

 

[Sirach2]

It helps to read the entire passage in context, rather than concentrate on one verse, which can suggest an altogether different meaning when not understood with the whole.

This is the meaning explained by our bishops at the bottom of the previous poster’s link.

The Gentiles lacked Israel’s messianic expectation, lacked the various covenants God made with Israel, lacked hope of salvation and knowledge of the true God; but through Christ all these religious barriers between Jew and Gentile have been transcended by the abolition of the Mosaic covenant-law for the sake of uniting Jew and Gentile into a single religious community imbued with the same holy Spirit and worshiping the same Father. The Gentiles are now included in God’s household as it arises upon the foundation of apostles, assisted by those endowed with the prophetic gift, the preachers of Christ. With Christ as the capstone (Eph 2:20; cf. Is 28:16; Mt 21:42), they are being built into the holy temple of God’s people where the divine presence dwells (Eph 2:21–22).

Just as the Israelite community was built on the 12 tribes with Aaron as its priest, the new covenant people of God are built on the 12 apostles. However, that does not diminish the fact that one of these 12 were appointed to be Pope, i.e., Peter.

I see that you are studying with your Jehovah Witness grandmother. You will be given very unorthodox teachings that often conflict with true Christianity. If you prefer to study their doctrines, I anticipate that many challenging questions will be the norm for you.

 

[Michael_Mayo]

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Protestants use this to say Peter wasn’t the first pope. What is the Catholic view on this scripture?

By “Pope” I guess we mean first bishop of Rome.
James was actually the first Christian leader in Jerusalem.

 

[COPLAND_3]

Here is the footnote from the Douay-Rheims Study Bible

20. Built upon the foundation. Note against the heretics, which think it dishonorable to Christ, to attribute his titles or callings to mortal men, that the faithful, (though built first, principally, and properly upon Christ,) yet are said here to be built also upon the apostles and prophets. Why may not the Church, then, be built upon St. Peter?

 

[guanophore]

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Protestants use this to say Peter wasn’t the first pope. What is the Catholic view on this scripture?

When Peter made his confession of faith, Jesus immediately grafted Peter into Himself, joining Peter at the cornerstone. The other Apostles are also joined to the cornerstone, laying, along with the prophets, the foundation of the Church.

On the contrary, this passage confirms that the One Holy Catholic Church is founded by Christ, upon the apostles, such that those who are the successors of the Apostles identify the Church founded by Christ.

The Reformers abandoned this Church, and built another foundation, based upon the error of Sola Scriptura. That is why the Church founded by Christ is One, and those founded otherwise are splintered into many.