Help with Hebrews 7:1-3

Carl Emerson · May 20, 2020

Heb 7

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Friends,

Feedback please on this passage - Some insist was is a regular Levitical Priest.

Some say it was Jesus.

Some say it is an angelic being, with God, before time and creation began.

Some say it is a 'regular' angel.

Your comments greatly appreciated.

jacks · May 20, 2020

I was told Melchizedek was a human priest. Though I wouldn't say he was a regular Levitical priest, (since he blessed Abraham in Genesis and Levi was a decedent of Abraham) rather that he was "higher" than than the Levitical priests and excelled in righteousness and wisdom. Maybe trying to show how Jesus's priesthood is superior to the Temple priests, as Melchizedek was superior to Levitical priests? Sorry that's all I got.

Radagast · May 20, 2020

Carl Emerson said:
Feedback please on this passage - Some insist was is a regular Levitical Priest.

Well, obviously he wasn't a Levitical priest, because Levi hadn't been born yet.

He was, we are told, a local king.

Genesis 14:18-20: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

Carl Emerson said:
Some say it was Jesus.

And obviously he is a picture or type of Jesus.

Carl Emerson said:
Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

I don't think that's saying that Melchizedek literally had no "beginning of days nor end of life," but simply that he appears from nowhere in the Genesis account, and that this uniqueness is one of the ways in which he points forward to Jesus.

klutedavid · May 20, 2020

Carl Emerson said:
Heb 7

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. 3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

Friends,

Feedback please on this passage - Some insist was is a regular Levitical Priest.

Some say it was Jesus.

Some say it is an angelic being, with God, before time and creation began.

Some say it is a 'regular' angel.

Your comments greatly appreciated.

Melchizedek is the king of Salem.

The city of Salem according to Josephus and the Aramic translations of the Bible, later becomes the city Jersalem.

Looking at the name of the city more carefully, Jeru SALEM.

Abraham tithes to one greater than himself.

Who could possibly be greater than Abraham in the Old Testament?

The genealogy of Melchizedek is non-existent even though he is a priest of God Almighty.

Possibly the shadow priesthood that is later fulfilled by the Divine, Great High Priest. Since both Melchizedek and Jesus both have a priesthood not defined by the law. Abraham is reckoned righteous apart from the law and Melchizedek is the king of righteousness apart from the law.

Melchizedek brought with him, bread and wine, when he met Abraham to bless him. (Genesis 14:18)

The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)

com7fy8 · May 21, 2020

Radagast said:
I don't think that's saying that Melchizedek literally had no "beginning of days nor end of life," but simply that he appears from nowhere in the Genesis account, and that this uniqueness is one of the ways in which he points forward to Jesus.

But it also says he is "without father, without mother, without genealogy" which comes right before it says > "having neither beginning of days nor end of life".

Radagast · May 21, 2020

com7fy8 said:
But it also says he is "without father, without mother, without genealogy" which comes right before it says > "having neither beginning of days nor end of life".

Yes, and I don't think that should be taken literally about the man in Genesis.

To quote Calvin:

"... the Apostle meant to express something more emphatic than that the family of Melchisedec was obscure or unknown. Nor does this objection disturb me, that the reality does not correspond with the figure or type, because Christ has a Father in heaven, and had a mother on earth; for the Apostle immediately explains his meaning by adding without descent, or kindred. He then exempts Melchisedec from what is common to others, a descent by birth; by which he means that he is eternal, so that his beginning from men was not to be sought after. It is indeed certain that he descended from parents; but the Apostle does not speak of him here in his private capacity; on the contrary, he sets him forth as a type of Christ. He therefore allows himself to see nothing in him but what Scripture contains. For in treating of things respecting Christ, such reverence ought to be observed as not to know anything but what is written in the Word of the Lord. Now, as the Holy Spirit in mentioning this king, the most illustrious of his age, is wholly silent as to his birth, and makes afterwards no record of his death, is not this the same thing as though eternity was to be ascribed to him? And what was shadowed forth in Melchisedec is really exhibited in Christ. It behooves us then to be satisfied with this moderate view, that while Scripture sets forth to us Melchisedec as one who had never been born and never died, it shows to us as in a mirror, that Christ has neither a beginning nor an end."

com7fy8 · May 21, 2020

Radagast you say that John said:
It is indeed certain that he descended from parents; but the Apostle does not speak of him here in his private capacity; on the contrary, he sets him forth as a type of Christ.

You said "Yes" to what I wrote, but what John says does not match with what I meant by what I wrote.

It appears that John does not think Melchizedec was never born of a woman. But Hebrews does not say this, directly, in any case.

I therefore have always understood that God means he was always somewhere on this earth, and showed up in Salem in order to have his meeting with Abraham.

And I have at times imagined what it would be like to be Melchizedek . . . now . . . still on this earth somewhere, the LORD always making a way for him to do whatever he is doing

He knows he cannot die. He can do whatever God has him do and not die.

And he can move and morph into each next lifestyle or activity.

May be we have met him.

By the way, I have been brought up by a mother and father who have told me they are my parents. So, as far as I know, I'm not Melchizedek. Oh yes, and I have needed to trust in Jesus; I have been a very evil person . . . unlike, I am sure, could be said about Melchizedek.

Radagast · May 22, 2020

com7fy8 said:
I therefore have always understood that God means he was always somewhere on this earth, and showed up in Salem in order to have his meeting with Abraham.

If that is what you are saying, I strongly disagree.

icxn · May 23, 2020

Radagast said:
...He was, we are told, a local king...

There's also a story in the Desert Fathers that resolves the matter of Melchizedek's identity.

Quote:

Daniel told the story of a hermit who used to live in the lower parts of Egypt, and who said in his simplicity that Melchizedek was the Son of God. Now, when the blessed man, Theophilus, the archbishop of Alexandria, heard of it, he sent a message asking that the monks bring this hermit to see him.

When Theophilus saw him, he realized this hermit was a man of vision and that everything that he asked for, God had given him, and that he had only said this out of his simplicity.

The archbishop dealt with him wisely, in the following manner, saying, "Abba, pray to God for me, because I have begun to think that Melchizedek was the Son of God. And, it cannot be true, for the high priest of God was a man. But, because I had doubts in my mind about this, I sent for you to pray to God for me that he may reveal the truth of the matter to you."

Then, because the hermit had confidence in the power of prayer, he said firmly to the archbishop, "Wait three days, and I will ask God about this and then I shall be able to tell you who Melchizedek was."

So, the hermit went away and after three days, returned, and said to the blessed Archbishop Theophilus, Melchizedek was a man."

The Archbishop said to him, "How do you know that, abba?"

The hermit said, "God showed me all the Patriarchs, one by one, and they passed before me one after the other, from Adam to Melchizedek, and an angel said to me, 'This is Melchizedek.' That is indeed how the truth of this matter appeared to me."

The hermit went away and he, himself, proclaimed that Melchizedek was a man, and the blessed Theophilus rejoiced greatly.

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Help with Hebrews 7:1-3

Carl Emerson

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jacks

Er Victus

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Radagast

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klutedavid

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com7fy8

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Radagast

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com7fy8

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Radagast

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icxn

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