THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
The communication sent by Phaphnaeus to Darius starkly contrasts with the letter that Rehum and Shimshai composed to Artaxerxes. While the latter contained a multitude of accusations aimed at the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Phaphnaeus’ message is instead filled with commendation, not only for the people but also for the Almighty. It begins with a greeting: To Darius the king, all peace! It continues by informing the king that they traveled to the land of Judah, to the temple of the great God; it is constructed with massive stones, and timber is incorporated into the walls, accomplishing this work swiftly and successfully. They then inquired of the elders, asking them, ‘Who authorized you to construct this temple and to complete these walls? (1 Ezra 5:7-9)’.
Read more (253 words)
From these statements, we can discern the significance behind the notion that the temple of the Lord was built using large stones. It is clear that such a magnificent project could only be realized with worked stones. The “unhewn stones” referenced must be understood as newly sourced stones that were rough-hewn and prepared for the construction of the Lord’s house. Even if there were leftover old stones, which, as Jeremiah mentions in Lamentations, were strewn about at various crossroads (Lamentations 4:1), it is evident that new stones had to be shaped to complete the temple’s construction.
The meaning behind this situation is unmistakable. The Church of God is constructed not solely of those who repent and regain their awareness, returning to a righteous life they previously lost through sin, but also of those newly drawn to the faith, guided by teachers’ instruction as if by the measuring tools of skilled builders, finding their rightful places within the edifice of the Lord’s house. The fact that the temple consists of both old and new stones—referring to those that have been long shaped and those that have remained unworked—can be appropriately viewed as a reflection of the single Church of Christ, comprising two peoples: Jews and Gentiles. The Jews, akin to stones that have been long processed, have possessed the knowledge and adhered to the law of God. In contrast, the Gentiles, who were once enslaved by idolatry and unaffected by the zeal of spiritual architects or piety, ultimately shed their savage and earthly mindset.