THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
The correspondence that Phaphnaeus dispatched to Darius contrasts sharply with the message that Rehum and Shimshai sent to Artaxerxes. While the latter was replete with charges against the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Phaphnaeus’s letter is abundant with commendations, not just of the people but also of the Almighty God. It begins with the greeting: To Darius the king, all peace! Let it be known to the king that we journeyed into the land of Judah, to the temple of the great God; it is constructed with large stones, and wood has been placed within its walls; this work is progressing swiftly and is being carried out successfully by their hands. We then inquired of the elders, asking them, ‘Who authorized you to erect this house and to complete these walls?’ (1 Ezra 5:7-9).
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Through these expressions, we can discern the significance of the phrase suggesting that the house of the Lord was constructed from substantial stones, though it is evident that such a magnificent structure could only be achieved with shaped stones. The term “unhewn stones” should be understood as referring to the new stones that were gathered in their raw state, which were subsequently shaped and made suitable for the construction of the Lord's house. Even if there were remnants of old stones scattered at the crossways, as indicated by Jeremiah in Lamentations (Lamentations 4:1), it is clear that new stones had to be processed to fulfill the temple's requirements.
This situation also bears significance. It is apparent that the Church of God is formed not only from those who, through repentance, regain their understanding and return to the righteous life they once lost through sin, but also from those who are newly called to faith. These individuals are guided by the teachings of instructors, as if measured by the builder's rod, and are positioned correctly within the framework of the Lord's house. The fact that the temple was constructed using both old and new stones—that is, stones that had long been shaped and stones that had remained unshaped—can be rightly understood as a reflection of the one Church of Christ, which comprises two nations: the Jews and the Gentiles. The Jews are akin to those stones long ago shaped, as they possessed knowledge and adhered to the law of God. Meanwhile, the Gentiles, who were previously servants to idolatry and untouched by the fervor of spiritual architects or piety, have now shed the disgrace of their earthly mindset and savagery.