THEOSISBeda Venerabilis
The correspondence from Phaphnaeus to Darius markedly contrasts with the missive penned by Rehum and Shimshai to Artaxerxes. While the latter was rife with charges against the citizens of Jerusalem, Phaphnaeus' letter is replete with commendations, not only for the people but also for the Sovereign Lord. It commences with the greeting: To Darius the king, may you have peace! The letter conveys that the recipients journeyed to Judah, to the temple of the great God; it is constructed from large stones, with timber incorporated into its walls, showcasing a project that is advancing swiftly and effectively. Subsequently, they inquired of the elders, asking, ‘Who authorized you to erect this temple and to complete these walls? (1 Ezra 5:7-9).’
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The mention of the magnificent structure built from substantial stones invites contemplation on the significance of such a declaration, as the scale of this endeavor implies that it could only be accomplished with worked stone. These unhewn stones symbolize the new stones that were collected in their natural state, which were then shaped and prepared for the construction of God’s house. Even if remnants of older stones existed, as indicated by Jeremiah in Lamentations, scattered across all thoroughfares (Lamentations 4:1), it was essential that newly worked stones be employed to fulfill the temple's construction.
This situation clearly illustrates that the Church of God comprises not only those who, through repentance, regain their awareness and reembrace the virtuous life they once forfeited through transgression but also individuals newly drawn to faith, guided by the teachings of instructors like builders using measuring rods, and positioned in their rightful places within the Lord's house. The temple being established from old and new stones—those that had long been shaped and those still in their raw state—parallels the reality that the indivisible Church of Christ is formed from two groups: Jews and Gentiles. The Jews can be seen as the long-prepared stones, having received the knowledge and adhered to the law of God. Conversely, the Gentiles, previously enslaved by idolatry, who had been untouched by spiritual architects’ fervor or holiness, have shed the distortion of savagery and the earthly mindset.