The Order of Melchizedek

[MisterPascal]

Christ is in our midst!

I have a question, sort of related to the "sacrifice" thread. How does the Orthodox Church interpret the verses pertaining to Christ being "a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek"?

What does this mean and how does Christ fulfill eternally this function even now that his sacrifice is finished "once and for all"?

Thanks!

 

[Rilian]

The little bit I know is that the mysterious priest/king Melchizedek appears in Genisis 14, Psalm 110 and is referred to prominently in Hebrews 5, 6, 7. I believe he was a gentile from Salem and that nothing is known about Melchizedek outside of scripture.

I think what the author of Hebrews was trying to get across was the need to follow Jesus, and not just the Law. I think the target audience of the Epistle were converted Jews who were in danger of backsliding into Temple only observance. The significance of Melchizedek is that he was both a priest and a king, something that goes beyond the limited function of the Levitical priests. Christ being a priest in the order of Melchizedek is not simply a Messiah, but the highest and most complete fulfillment of Judaism itself.

Christ assuming the function of the priesthood of the Old Testament then becomes the eternal priest. There is an icon entitled "King of the Heavens & Great High Priest" which I think underscores this. Christ, without sin, offered the sacrifice of himself. I think this fits in with the Orthodox view of Christs' atoning death, he is not an object of wrath by a vengeful God, but is offering himself as a sacrifice for us. Through the holy spirit I believe it is held in Orthodoxy that this perfect priesthood becomes present in the sacraments.

 

[MariaRegina]

Oblio and Proud2bCatholic discussed this topic in a thread and concluded that Melchizedek is not only a figure of Christ but is Christ.

Maybe Oblio (our Reader Christopher) can find that thread.

Yours in the Risen Lord,
Elizabeth

 

[Rilian]

Hmmm, I could be wrong and wholly unOrthodox here (it's happened plenty of times), but Melchizedek to me is a sign or symbol of Christ. A prototype for the type of priesthood that is to come, as there are many portents of Christ in the Old Testament. To say that Christ is Melchizedek to me would say that the word was present before the Incarnation, and that wouldn't sound right to me.

 

[MariaRegina]

Hmmm, I could be wrong and wholly unOrthodox here (it's happened plenty of times), but Melchizedek to me is a sign or symbol of Christ. A prototype for the type of priesthood that is to come, as there are many portents of Christ in the Old Testament. To say that Christ is Melchizedek to me would say that the word was present before the Incarnation, and that wouldn't sound right to me.

Christ is the Incarnate God. He is the Eternal Word of God.

Our time is relative. His time is eternal and infinite.

Satan saw Christ as God and as Man and rebelled that Man would be higher than the Angels

The three children in the furnace saw Christ appearing as a young man before Christ was incarnated in the Virgin Mary.

Abraham saw Christ when he beheld the three angels at the Oaks.

Abraham also saw Christ as the angel who prevented him from taking the life of his only son.

Adam and Eve walked with Christ (as Man) in the Garden of Eden.

Hope this helps.

Elizabeth

Check out Romans and Hebrews for more quotes.

 

[Philip]

To say that Christ is Melchizedek to me would say that the word was present before the Incarnation, and that wouldn't sound right to me.

Christ appeared several times in the Old Testament in pre-Incarnate form. Many Orthodox believe that Melchizedek is one of these times. However, this is not a dogma of the Church.

 

[Rilian]

Hope this helps.

Well, yes and no. I thought the perpetual virginity was the last real theological barrier I had to tackle, but I it appears I may have been a bit hasty in that judgement. I will have to think about this Elizabeth, thanks for the information.

 

[prodromos]

And who was it that Jacob wrestled with in Genesis 32:22-32?

Regarding Melchizedek, what I remember being important is that there is no background as to Melchizedek's origin or his fate. He just IS! So whereas the Aaronic [sorry, should be Levitical] priesthood has a beginning with the descendants of Levi and an end with the destruction of the Temple, the order of Melchizedek has no beginning and no end. He is a type of the eternal priesthood of which Christ is the Great High Priest.

John.

 

[ProCommunioneFacior]

Here is a thread from the OBOB forums where we discuss Melchizedek quite extensively.
The discussion on Melchizedek starts about halfway down the first page.


http://www.christianforums.com/t769...ght=Melchizedek

 

[Rilian]

Thanks, I read through that thread and it helped. There was also a thread about Daniel on a mailing list that I went through that was related to all of this.