Visual Theology – Ephesians

The Visual Theology charts are designed to help you see the structure and movement of Scripture. They highlight patterns, contrasts, and developments that are often difficult to hold together when reading line by line.

These charts show the structure of the argument. The accompanying articles develop each part in full.

This approach follows a long tradition of visual teaching in the Church. The well-known charts of Clarence Larkin helped many grasp the broad outline of Scripture. In the same spirit, these charts aim to make visible what the Word of God is revealing.

Charts and teaching notes for the book of Ephesians. Select a chart below to view the image and article.

Chart

Contrast of Building Materials: Temporary vs. Eternal

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From the teaching in: EPHESIANS: THE VISION OF BETHEL FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD (Vol 1: The Foundation of the House)

Ephesians 4:23-32

Contrast of Building Materials: Temporary vs. Eternal

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 -- Testing of Building Materials

This chart shows the structure. What follows explains each part.

1 Corinthians 3:10-15
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The Two Kinds of Building Materials

Scripture presents a vision of God’s building, focusing on the substance with which we build. In 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul distinguishes between “wood, hay, stubble” and “gold, silver, precious stones.” This contrast concerns the intrinsic quality of what is built into God’s house, which will be tested by fire: “the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Corinthians 3:13, KJV). The foundation is Christ alone (1 Corinthians 3:11), but what is built upon it varies. Building with perishable materials results in loss, though the builder is saved (1 Corinthians 3:15). Building with enduring materials brings reward (1 Corinthians 3:14).

The Biblical Pattern of Precious Materials

These materials are not arbitrary. Eden contained gold and precious stones (Genesis 2:11-12), foreshadowing the New Jerusalem, described as “pure gold” with foundations of “precious stones” (Revelation 21:18-21, KJV). The river and tree of life further link God’s beginning to His consummation (Genesis 2:9-10; Revelation 22:1-2). These materials signify Christ as the content and supply of the building: gold represents God’s divine nature, silver redemption, and precious stones the transformed saints. True New Testament ministry builds Christ into the saints by the Spirit—“the ministry of the Spirit, which gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6)—supplying the eternal materials for God’s habitation.

The Purpose and Measure of True Ministry

Ephesians reveals the purpose: the church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone,” growing into “an holy temple in the Lord” and “an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20-22, KJV). Ministry is given “for the perfecting of the saints... unto the building up of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). Its measure is not outward activity, but whether it builds Christ into His people. Paul warns that tradition, self-effort, or fruitless activity—though impressive—are perishable materials. Only what is wrought in Christ through the Spirit will remain.

The Consummation: The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem is the consummation of this building—a city of tested, eternal materials, filled with God’s glory and composed of the transformed saints as the bride of the Lamb (Revelation 21:2, 9-11). The vision of God’s building calls us to minister Christ as life, laboring not in vain traditions but for what will abide forever as part of God’s eternal habitation.

Orientation

We often assume that any Christian activity constitutes building God's house, yet Scripture warns that even work on the right foundation can be made of perishable materials.

The foundation is already laid by God and is exclusively Jesus Christ
Building involves the specific materials we contribute to the life of the church
Testing by fire is not a threat of judgment but a revelation of the work's true quality

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 3:11

Clarification

Suffering the loss of one's work at the judgment seat does not imply a loss of salvation or a punitive experience for the believer.

Wood, hay, and stubble represent human effort and tradition rather than moral failure
The fire consumes what is temporary so that only what is of Christ remains
Salvation remains secure even if a man's entire life's work is burned

If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
— 1 Corinthians 3:15

Structure

God’s building project follows a consistent biblical pattern using eternal materials first seen in Eden and finally realized in the New Jerusalem.

Gold, silver, and precious stones represent the divine nature and redemption built into the saints
True ministry is the 'ministry of the Spirit' that supplies Christ as the content of the building
The goal is a corporate habitation of God rather than individual performance

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
— Ephesians 2:22

Weight-Bearing Prose

The core of Pauline ministry is the distinction between the ‘ministry of the letter’ and the ‘ministry of the Spirit.’ While many labor with wood, hay, and stubble—symbolizing human tradition, self-effort, and outward religious activity—these materials cannot withstand God’s ultimate evaluation. They are temporary and lack the divine weight required for an eternal habitation.

God provides the materials of gold (His divine nature), silver (redemption), and precious stones (transformed believers) to be the substance of His house. These are not earned by the believer but are wrought in them by the Spirit as they grow in the knowledge of Christ. The Bema seat is the celebratory declaration of this sort of work. Any ‘loss’ suffered is simply the passing away of what was never eternal to begin with, ensuring that the New Jerusalem is composed entirely of the glory of God and the Lamb.

Integration

Your standing before God is anchored in the finished work of Christ, the only foundation. There is no pressure to produce results through your own strength; instead, you are invited to rest in the Spirit’s work of building Christ into your life. As you participate in the life of the Body, remember that Christ is both your foundation and your ultimate reward. The fire of God’s presence only serves to highlight the beauty of what He has accomplished in and through you.

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These charts are based on the following books:

EPHESIANS: THE VISION OF BETHEL FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD (Vol 1: The Foundation of the House)

Are you ready to move beyond a surface-level reading of Ephesians into the very heart of God's eternal plan. In The Foundation of the House, author David Benjamin unveils the book of Ephesians not as a mere list of bl...

View Related Book

Ephesians: The Bethel of the Israel of God - Vol 2: Building with Sword in Hand

Volume 2 of the Ephesians commentary: from Ephesians 4:1 onward—the worthy walk as attentiveness, not performance. For the beaten sheep outside the institutional church.