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Melchizedek

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  • Melchizedek

    Who was/is this mysterious figure?

    Genesis 14:18-20:

    And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,

    “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
    maker of heaven and earth;
    and blessed be God Most High,
    who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

    And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.


    Psalm 110:

    The Lord says to my lord,
    “Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies your footstool.”

    The Lord sends out from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your foes.
    Your people will offer themselves willingly
    on the day you lead your forces
    on the holy mountains.
    From the womb of the morning,
    like dew, your youth will come to you.
    The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
    “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

    The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
    He will execute judgment among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
    he will shatter heads
    over the wide earth.
    He will drink from the stream by the path;
    therefore he will lift up his head.


    Hebrews 5:6-10:

    as he says also in another place,

    “You are a priest forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”

    In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.


    Hebrews 7:1-28:

    This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

    See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

    Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

    It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him,

    “You are a priest forever,
    according to the order of Melchizedek.”

    There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

    This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,

    “The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
    ‘You are a priest forever’”—

    accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

    Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

    For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.


    So as we can see, Melchizedek is:

    1) Named King of peace, King of righteousness

    2) Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life

    3) Resembles the Son of God

    4) Etc.

    Who do you say this Melchizedek is?

  • #2
    He was a mysterious figure.
    The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

    Comment


    • #3
      By taking scripture as a plan laid out consistently (with continuity) from Genesis through the New Testament, it would seem that the plan was to create a priesthood which would be independent of the Levitical priesthood so that Jewish followers of Christ would have an easier time accepting Christ Jesus as a priest distinct from the Levites.

      From the Genesis passage alone, we might see Melchizedek as a person God selected into a unique priesthood. His priesthood was recognized by Abram to be truly of God.

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
        By taking scripture as a plan laid out consistently (with continuity) from Genesis through the New Testament, it would seem that the plan was to create a priesthood which would be independent of the Levitical priesthood so that Jewish followers of Christ would have an easier time accepting Christ Jesus as a priest distinct from the Levites.

        From the Genesis passage alone, we might see Melchizedek as a person God selected into a unique priesthood. His priesthood was recognized by Abram to be truly of God.
        So Melchizedek was a "type of Christ"? Who was he exactly though -- "a person God selected" -- who would that be?

        Comment


        • #5
          Definitely a type of Christ toward defining the priesthood without end.

          I would think King M. had an encounter with God wherein King M. was made a priest. Earlier I was trying to indicate that he was a legitimate priest since Abraham (and scripture) affirmed this.

          While it is possible he had inherited a priestly position (or was appointed by a previous priest), it seems more likely that a direct encounter with God occurred such that King M. had a unique appointment as priest. Also, this take on the situation helps show he was a priest without any identifiable beginning and had no identifiable end -- no heir to his priesthood during his lifetime.

          Note that Cow Poke's observation reflects less speculation.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
            Note that Cow Poke's observation reflects less speculation.
            What an astute observation.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by mikewhitney View Post
              Definitely a type of Christ toward defining the priesthood without end.

              I would think King M. had an encounter with God wherein King M. was made a priest. Earlier I was trying to indicate that he was a legitimate priest since Abraham (and scripture) affirmed this.

              While it is possible he had inherited a priestly position (or was appointed by a previous priest), it seems more likely that a direct encounter with God occurred such that King M. had a unique appointment as priest. Also, this take on the situation helps show he was a priest without any identifiable beginning and had no identifiable end -- no heir to his priesthood during his lifetime.

              Note that Cow Poke's observation reflects less speculation.
              Thanks Mike. So you don't take his description in Hebrews: "Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life" literally?

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Scrawly View Post
                Thanks Mike. So you don't take his description in Hebrews: "Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life" literally?
                I take this within the sense that the priesthood was not genealogical/tribal in definition. All the other clauses help to establish that concept.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Scrawly View Post
                  Who was/is this mysterious figure?

                  Genesis 14:18-20:

                  And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,

                  “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
                  maker of heaven and earth;
                  and blessed be God Most High,
                  who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

                  And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.


                  Psalm 110:

                  The Lord says to my lord,
                  “Sit at my right hand
                  until I make your enemies your footstool.”

                  The Lord sends out from Zion
                  your mighty scepter.
                  Rule in the midst of your foes.
                  Your people will offer themselves willingly
                  on the day you lead your forces
                  on the holy mountains.
                  From the womb of the morning,
                  like dew, your youth will come to you.
                  The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
                  “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                  The Lord is at your right hand;
                  he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
                  He will execute judgment among the nations,
                  filling them with corpses;
                  he will shatter heads
                  over the wide earth.
                  He will drink from the stream by the path;
                  therefore he will lift up his head.


                  Hebrews 5:6-10:

                  as he says also in another place,

                  “You are a priest forever,
                  according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                  In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.


                  Hebrews 7:1-28:

                  This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

                  See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

                  Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

                  It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him,

                  “You are a priest forever,
                  according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                  There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

                  This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,

                  “The Lord has sworn
                  and will not change his mind,
                  ‘You are a priest forever’”—

                  accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

                  Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

                  For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.


                  So as we can see, Melchizedek is:

                  1) Named King of peace, King of righteousness

                  2) Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life

                  3) Resembles the Son of God

                  4) Etc.

                  Who do you say this Melchizedek is?
                  Pro note. If you copy something into notepad and cut and paste from there you do not get all those annoying weird characters that make it hard to read.
                  "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                  "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Littlejoe View Post
                    Pro note. If you copy something into notepad and cut and paste from there you do not get all those annoying weird characters that make it hard to read.
                    Thanks for the tip!

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Scrawly View Post
                      Thanks for the tip!
                      LittleJoe is handier than a shirt on a pocket!
                      The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Scrawly View Post
                        Thanks for the tip!
                        YW!
                        "What has the Church gained if it is popular, but there is no conviction, no repentance, no power?" - A.W. Tozer

                        "... there are two parties in Washington, the stupid party and the evil party, who occasionally get together and do something both stupid and evil, and this is called bipartisanship." - Everett Dirksen

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Chrawnus View Post
                          What an astute observation.
                          I hope I expressed that properly. I was endorsing CP's summarization as more stable(and a good place to be) but I also recognized that it can be reasonable to explore a little further, as I had done.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by Scrawly View Post
                            Who was/is this mysterious figure?

                            Genesis 14:18-20:

                            And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was priest of God Most High. He blessed him and said,

                            “Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
                            maker of heaven and earth;
                            and blessed be God Most High,
                            who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”

                            And Abram gave him one-tenth of everything.


                            Psalm 110:

                            The Lord says to my lord,
                            “Sit at my right hand
                            until I make your enemies your footstool.”

                            The Lord sends out from Zion
                            your mighty scepter.
                            Rule in the midst of your foes.
                            Your people will offer themselves willingly
                            on the day you lead your forces
                            on the holy mountains.
                            From the womb of the morning,
                            like dew, your youth will come to you.
                            The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind,
                            “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                            The Lord is at your right hand;
                            he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
                            He will execute judgment among the nations,
                            filling them with corpses;
                            he will shatter heads
                            over the wide earth.
                            He will drink from the stream by the path;
                            therefore he will lift up his head.


                            Hebrews 5:6-10:

                            as he says also in another place,

                            “You are a priest forever,
                            according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                            In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.


                            Hebrews 7:1-28:

                            This “King Melchizedek of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham as he was returning from defeating the kings and blessed him”; and to him Abraham apportioned “one-tenth of everything.” His name, in the first place, means “king of righteousness”; next he is also king of Salem, that is, “king of peace.” Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

                            See how great he is! Even Abraham the patriarch gave him a tenth of the spoils. And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to collect tithes from the people, that is, from their kindred, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man, who does not belong to their ancestry, collected tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had received the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case, tithes are received by those who are mortal; in the other, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

                            Now if perfection had been attainable through the levitical priesthood—for the people received the law under this priesthood—what further need would there have been to speak of another priest arising according to the order of Melchizedek, rather than one according to the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. Now the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

                            It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him,

                            “You are a priest forever,
                            according to the order of Melchizedek.”

                            There is, on the one hand, the abrogation of an earlier commandment because it was weak and ineffectual (for the law made nothing perfect); there is, on the other hand, the introduction of a better hope, through which we approach God.

                            This was confirmed with an oath; for others who became priests took their office without an oath, but this one became a priest with an oath, because of the one who said to him,

                            “The Lord has sworn
                            and will not change his mind,
                            ‘You are a priest forever’”—

                            accordingly Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant.

                            Furthermore, the former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who approach God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

                            For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he has no need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people; this he did once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints as high priests those who are subject to weakness, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.


                            So as we can see, Melchizedek is:

                            1) Named King of peace, King of righteousness

                            2) Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life

                            3) Resembles the Son of God

                            4) Etc.

                            Who do you say this Melchizedek is?
                            Priest-king of Salem, with a name meaning “Zedek is my king”. He sounds rather like Adoni-Zedek (or A.-Bezek) in Joshua 10. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adonizedek They have similar names, and both are (presented as) kings of cities.

                            Melchizedek is also mentioned in the Roman Canon of the Mass. John Calvin, in his commentary on Genesis, allows himself some tart remarks about the Roman treatment of Melchizedek’s “bread and wine” as sacrificial gifts.

                            What mainly strikes me about Gen. 14 is that it is the one chapter in which Abra[ha]m appears as a warrior.

                            Comment

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