Ephesians 2:20
Ephesians 2:2020built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
JWs use this verse to argue that the first-century apostles established a pattern of centralised authority — and that the Governing Body is the modern continuation of that pattern. The "foundation of the apostles and prophets" is read as a template for ongoing organisational governance.
Paul's construction metaphor is precise: the church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone." A foundation is poured once — it cannot be re-laid every generation. The apostolic office had specific, non-transferable marks: personal commission by the risen Christ (; ; ), signs of an apostle (), and the authority to deliver new revelation (). Paul in commits the next generation of leaders to "God and the word of his undeserved kindness" — not to a successor governing body. The chain is prophets to Son to apostles to Scripture (). There is no fifth stage because the foundation does not need to be laid again.