THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
The correspondence sent by Phaphnaeus to King Darius is markedly different from the letter authored by Rehum and Shimshai to Artaxerxes. Whereas that earlier letter was laden with accusations directed at the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Phaphnaeus’s letter instead conveys admiration not just for the people, but for the Almighty Himself. The letter commences with a greeting: To Darius the king, all peace! It continues by informing the king of their visit to the region of Judah, where they found the house of the great God. It is constructed from substantial stones, with timber incorporated into the walls, and the effort is progressing efficiently and successfully.
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They inquired of the elders, posing the question, ‘Who authorized you to construct this house and to finalize these walls?’ (1 Ezra 5:7-9). Herein lies the key to understanding the significance of the mention of the house of the Lord being erected with large stones, despite the fact that such an impressive structure could only arise from carefully worked stones. The reference to unshaped stones can be interpreted as newly gathered materials that were then shaped and made suitable for the Lord's dwelling. Even if remnants of older stones existed, as Jeremiah records in Lamentations regarding those scattered at crossroads (Lamentations 4:1), it is evident that new stones were essential to complete the temple's construction. This situation inevitably reflects an important truth. The Church of God is formed not solely from those who, through repentance, regain awareness and return to the righteous path they previously strayed from due to sin, but also from those newly invited to faith, guided by the teaching of shepherds akin to builders utilizing a measuring tool, and positioned rightly within the framework of the Lord's house. The fact that the temple consisted of both new and old stones—those that had been shaped long ago and others that had remained unworked—aptly symbolizes the unity of Christ’s Church, represented by two distinct groups: Jews and Gentiles. The Jews can be likened to stones that have long been molded, as they possessed knowledge and adhered to God’s law. In contrast, the Gentiles, who were once in bondage to idolatry and untouched by the fervor of spiritual architects or by true piety, shed their crude and earthly mindset.