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In An Alphabetical Analysis Part 6, pages 202-207, 100: H. Welch has written an article
headed "Foundation". He makes the remarkable statement that foundation is a relative
term. In searching the Scriptures for its use we find that sometimes it must be taken
literally, and in other cases foundation must be regarded as a figure of speech. We find
the following examples of its use:
Foundation of the house of the Lord (I Kings 6: 37) (Numerous references).
Foundation of the earth (Psa. 82: 5; Isa. 24: 18; 40: 21; 48: 13).
Foundation of the hills (Psa. 18: 7).
Foundation of heaven (II Sam. 22: 8).
Foundation of the world (II Sam. 22: 16; Psa. 18: 15).
The excitement when the foundation of the Temple was finished is recorded in
Ezra.3: Some sang, others shouted for joy, while older people wept as they were
overcome by emotion.
100: H. Welch points out that a foundation may be of no value if it does not support a
building. So, in various passages there are descriptions of different kinds of building that
may be erected.
In Matt. 7: 24-27 Jesus Christ speaks of a wise man who built a house on a rock
foundation, while the foolish man built his house on sand. The storm tested the houses
and only the house built on rock survived. Christ used the example of the wise man to
show that after hearing the words of the Lord, action needs to be taken. The foolish man
is one who hears the word, but ignores it. So we may take this to mean that to preach
doctrine and so lay a foundation is of little value, if faith and a practical Christian life do
not follow the preaching.
Paul also uses the figure of the builder. He describes himself as a wise master builder
who laid a good foundation. Others built on that foundation, some using gold, silver, or
precious stones while some used wood, hay, or stubble. The buildings were tested by
fire. Paul comments on his foundation in I Cor. 3: 11:
"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
So Paul affirms that Christ is the only and the true foundation.
This leads us to an important verse which Peter quotes in his first epistle:
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a
tried stone, a precious stone, a sure foundation" (Isa. 28: 16).
In the context the corner stone appears to be a part of the foundation, but we have a
problem. Peter quotes Isa. 28: 16 and the Greek for corner stone means a stone "at
the extreme angle" (Young's Concordance). The chief corner stone may therefore be the
head stone, the keystone, or the topmost stone. Is it correct to view Christ as the true
foundation, and at the same time the head stone or keystone? Psa. 118: 22 says that