Who is Melchizedek

[Jan001]

Only the very first Roman Catholic bible, the second century Vetus Latina, was translated purely from the Masoretic in terms of the OT (and is mostly disused and partially lost, but some liturgical phrases like Gloria in Excelsis Deo come from it). Rather they often use the Masoretic; the Vulgate was translated directly from the Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts by St. Jerome, using the Septuagint only for the Psalter and for books where the Hebrew or Aramaic text could not be found (it has since turned up for several of them in the form of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which also have fragments attesting to Septuagint readings). The most recent Roman Catholic Bible to be translated from the Vulgate was the 18th century Challoner Douai Rheims.

However, it is the case that most Orthodox Bibles are based on the Septuagint, as we officially prefer it to other versions, except for the Syriacs who have the fourth century Peshitta, and the Ethiopians who have an ancient translation that provides a second source for much content in the Septuagint regarded by Roman Catholics and Anglicans as Deurerocanonical. The Russian Orthodox Church in the 19th century published a bible partially translated from the Masoretic, which was controversial, but nearly all Eastern Orthodox Bibles are based on the Septuagint and the received Byzantine text of the New Testament, and obviously this is due to the Greek-language heritage of these churches.

The small number of Byzantine Rite Catholics also usually use the same bibles as the Eastern Orthodox.

Thanks for the info.

I do have the Douay-Rheims Bible in my home. I purchased it from Tan Books years ago. I also have other translations.

 

[Jan001]

Who was MELCHIZEDEK and why is he IMPORTANT to us​

The SHOCKING Story of Melchizedek and His CONNECTION to Christ​

Interesting videos. Thank you.

 

[The Liturgist]

Thanks for the info.

I do have the Douay-Rheims Bible in my home. I purchased it from Tan Books years ago. I also have other translations.

You might enjoy the Orthodox Study Bible, which has the Septuagint. There are two other online translations, the 18th century Lancelot Brenton and the contemporary NETS (New English Translation of the Septuagint). The Brenton Septuagint makes a nice pairing with any traditional language translation of the New Testament, such as that from the KJV, or the Douai Rheims, or the 19th century Murdock translation of the West Syriac Peshitto. The best translation of the Septuagint Psalms in my opinion is the Jordanville Psalter, which you may be able to find online, or you can purchase it in physical or electronic form as “A Psalter for Prayer”; it is based on the Coverdale Psalter used in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer which is known to be good for singing.

 

[Jan001]

You might enjoy the Orthodox Study Bible, which has the Septuagint. There are two other online translations, the 18th century Lancelot Brenton and the contemporary NETS (New English Translation of the Septuagint). The Brenton Septuagint makes a nice pairing with any traditional language translation of the New Testament, such as that from the KJV, or the Douai Rheims, or the 19th century Murdock translation of the West Syriac Peshitto. The best translation of the Septuagint Psalms in my opinion is the Jordanville Psalter, which you may be able to find online, or you can purchase it in physical or electronic form as “A Psalter for Prayer”; it is based on the Coverdale Psalter used in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer which is known to be good for singing.

Thank you.

I was a member of a Byzantine Church for a few years when I lived in Tucson, AZ. I also visited an Orthodox Church when I lived there. Beautiful churches. Awesome liturgies.

 

[Yekcidmij]

How do you figure that conclusion?

It's based on when people in Genesis were born, how long they lived and when they had children, etc..

I have no evidence that Shem is Melchizedek. I just showed that it is possible.

I'm not saying he is. I'm only saying that if someone like the Rabbis has the Masoretic text/tradition, then Shem would have been alive at the time of Abraham. This would lend itself to the idea that Shem was Melchizedek. In this way, they would also avoid the issue that Hebrews points out - we don't know Melchizedek's lineage and the Torah considers him a legitimate priest. By using this interpretive strategy, the Rabbis can claim that Noah comes off the ark and offers a sacrifice (ie, he's a legitimate priest) and passes this off to his son Shem, who in turn passes it to Abraham. Thus, on this reckoning we know Melchizedek's lineage which provides legitimacy to Melchizedek's priestly role.

I don't think the text indicates Melchizedek was Shem, fwiw. That seems like theologically motivated reasoning to me. In my best guess Melchizedek was a Jebusite priest/ruler of Jerusalem before it was conquered by David (note the similar Jebusite name of the ruler of Jerusalem in Josh 10:1-3). When David conquered Jerusalem, he took on the titles/roles of the Jebusite priest-ruler, hence the language of Psalm 110, and so the priestly "order of Melchizedek" becomes a function/role of the king of Israel. Rather than being used to legitimize the Levitical priesthood as even being in some sense prior to Sinai (and all the way back to Adam), as the Rabbis would have it, the Torah uses Melchizedek to legitimize the priestly role of the king.

 

[Jan001]

It's based on when people in Genesis were born, how long they lived and when they had children, etc..


I'm not saying he is. I'm only saying that if someone like the Rabbis has the Masoretic text/tradition, then Shem would have been alive at the time of Abraham. This would lend itself to the idea that Shem was Melchizedek. In this way, they would also avoid the issue that Hebrews points out - we don't know Melchizedek's lineage and the Torah considers him a legitimate priest. By using this interpretive strategy, the Rabbis can claim that Noah comes off the ark and offers a sacrifice (ie, he's a legitimate priest) and passes this off to his son Shem, who in turn passes it to Abraham. Thus, on this reckoning we know Melchizedek's lineage which provides legitimacy to Melchizedek's priestly role.

I don't think the text indicates Melchizedek was Shem, fwiw. That seems like theologically motivated reasoning to me. In my best guess Melchizedek was a Jebusite priest/ruler of Jerusalem before it was conquered by David (note the similar Jebusite name of the ruler of Jerusalem in Josh 10:1-3). When David conquered Jerusalem, he took on the titles/roles of the Jebusite priest-ruler, hence the language of Psalm 110, and so the priestly "order of Melchizedek" becomes a function/role of the king of Israel. Rather than being used to legitimize the Levitical priesthood as even being in some sense prior to Sinai (and all the way back to Adam), as the Rabbis would have it, the Torah uses Melchizedek to legitimize the priestly role of the king.

See the following post. Thanks.

 

[Jan001]

Today, I read in Anne Catherine Emmerich's book regarding her visions about the life of Jesus Christ, that Melchizedek belongs to the choir of angels that are set over countries and nations; they brought messages to Abraham and the other Patriarchs. They stand opposite the archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.