The Enigmatic Melchizedek

[Follower Of Christ]

From 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."

From Hebrews 7:1-3 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever."

Melchizedek is one of the most enigmatic characters in the entire bible. I ponder about many things regarding this character:

1. How did he survive Noah's flood since he has neither beginning of days nor end of life?

2. What happened to him after the blessing he gave Abram?

3. What was his nature? Man or angel or something else? Obviously he is not God the Father, God the Son or The Holy Spirit.

4. Lastly, it appears he has a very peripheral role in the bible's timeline of events and their purpose since all we know of him is that he blessed Abram. Then why have him mentioned in the bible at all? What is God's purpose in providing us a very fleeting introduction to this enigmatic and powerful character?

 

[Follower Of Christ]

In my understanding Melchizedek is introduced to contrast him with Abraham the man who is central to God's plan. It's like God saying yes there is this powerful priest king who here who has endless life but you just wait and see what happens in the lineage of Abraham and how through Abraham I carry out my plan.

 

[LeviR]

From 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."

From Hebrews 7:1-3 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever."

Melchizedek is one of the most enigmatic characters in the entire bible. I ponder about many things regarding this character:

1. How did he survive Noah's flood since he has neither beginning of days nor end of life?

2. What happened to him after the blessing he gave Abram?

3. What was his nature? Man or angel or something else? Obviously he is not God the Father, God the Son or The Holy Spirit.

4. Lastly, it appears he has a very peripheral role in the bible's timeline of events and their purpose since all we know of him is that he blessed Abram. Then why have him mentioned in the bible at all? What is God's purpose in providing us a very fleeting introduction to this enigmatic and powerful character?

He is an immortal priest of God. Greater than Abraham at the tine they met. He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave tithe to him.
Jesus is now a high priest of this order. Because Jesus is not of Levi but Judah.

 

[LeviR]

He has made them kings and priests to God.

As the 4 living creatures and 24 elders of Revelation represent the raptured saints or holy ones of God, the 4 are the multitude of kings and the 24 are the multitude of priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The 4 and 24 were the encampment of the people around the tabernacle. 4 groups of 3 tribes each, and the 24 courses of the levitical priests.

John saw the true tabernacle in heaven which the one on earth was but a shadow.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

He is an immortal priest of God. Greater than Abraham at the tine they met. He blessed Abraham and Abraham gave tithe to him.
Jesus is now a high priest of this order. Because Jesus is not of Levi but Judah.

Sure, but intriguing questions remain. You said he is an immortal priest but Melchizedek is more than that. He is also a king and the king of Salem after all. That makes him an immortal priest king who presumably was around the times of the kingdom of United Israel and later Judah. Yet he has an office which was taken over by Jesus Christ only. Why no more mention of him in the Old Testament? All I can think of is that God in his omniscience chose man as his vehicle for carrying out his great plan. Sure God has plenty of immortal creatures to do his bidding but man is special in his plan. From 1 John 3:1 "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him." In the children of God indwells the Holy Spirit. I do not believe the Holy Spirit indwells in angels - the bible is silent on that issue.

 

[Beetow]

1. How did he survive Noah's flood since he has neither beginning of days nor end of life?

The thing is: Mel did have a beginning of life and he did have an end of life; but not
on the page of scripture. Those parts of his existence are omitted from the Bible so
that Mel's priesthood could be utilized as a type of Christ's priesthood. In other
words: Mel is an allegory, so to speak.

For example: on the page of scripture Mel appears to be an immortal, eternal,
being; whereas in real life of course he was just as mortal, and just as temporal, as
everybody else.

3. What was his nature? Man or angel or something else?

According to Heb 5:1-10 high priests are required to have human sensibilities.

why have him mentioned in the bible at all? What is God's purpose in providing us a very
fleeting introduction to this enigmatic and powerful character?

It's sometimes objected that Jesus cannot be a high priest because he descended from
Judah. However: Mel wasn't a Jew, he was a Canaanite, viz: Mel is proof that high
priests are not restricted to the tribe of Levi.
_

 

[Follower Of Christ]

He has made them kings and priests to God.

As the 4 living creatures and 24 elders of Revelation represent the raptured saints or holy ones of God, the 4 are the multitude of kings and the 24 are the multitude of priest after the order of Melchizedek.

The 4 and 24 were the encampment of the people around the tabernacle. 4 groups of 3 tribes each, and the 24 courses of the levitical priests.

John saw the true tabernacle in heaven which the one on earth was but a shadow.

Based upon the precept that bible should interpret the bible, all I know is that I don't know who the 24 elders are. On the other hand, the 4 living creatures can be cross referenced with Ezekiel 1:4-14.

I agree though that the delineation of the desert encampment is but a mere shadow of the court in the third heaven.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

The thing is: Mel did have a beginning of life and he did have an end of life; but not
on the page of scripture. Those parts of his existence are omitted from the Bible so
that Mel's priesthood could be utilized as a type of Christ's priesthood. In other
words: Mel is an allegory, so to speak.

Paul states in Hebrews 7:1-3 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace ;He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever."

Are you disputing what Paul said? I do not question Melchizedek's immortality, and rather than considering allegories I would focus on the literary use of juxtaposition where Melchizedek is contrasted with Abraham. The first is given a fleeting description albeit immortal, while the second's lineage brings salvation to the world and finalizes God's plan.

Man is special in God's creation. More special than angels etc. From 1 Peter 1:12 "It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look."

 

[LeviR]

The thing is: Mel did have a beginning of life and he did have an end of life; but not
on the page of scripture. Those parts of his existence are omitted from the Bible so
that Mel's priesthood could be utilized as a type of Christ's priesthood. In other
words: Mel is an allegory, so to speak.

For example: on the page of scripture Mel appears to be an immortal, eternal,
being; whereas in real life of course he was just as mortal, and just as temporal, as
everybody else.


According to Heb 5:1-10 high priests are required to have human sensibilities.


It's sometimes objected that Jesus cannot be a high priest because he descended from
Judah. However: Mel wasn't a Jew, he was a Canaanite, viz: Mel is proof that high
priests are not restricted to the tribe of Levi.
_

Mel was mortal until he became immortal priest.
But “Mel” was not his name. Mel means first, “king of righteousness” and second, “king of Salem”.

“Mel” could impart righteousness to those he ministered to as priest. He blessed Abraham, who in turn gave tithe to Mel.

It seems the righteousness imputed or imparted to Abraham for his faith came through Mel.
Abraham’s faith, whereby came imputed righteousness and peace with God, seems to be by Mel.

Christ, as priest of the order of Mel, is also king of righteousness and has power to impart righteousness on those he ministers to.

Mel is also called “king of Salem” which means “king of peace”.
Christ is prince of peace.

Both these imparted righteousness to those they minister and create peace between God and man.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

Mel was mortal until he became immortal priest.

From Hebrews 7:3 "He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever."

So Melchizedek started as mortal, but has no father or mother?

 

[LeviR]

Based upon the precept that bible should interpret the bible, all I know is that I don't know who the 24 elders are. On the other hand, the 4 living creatures can be cross referenced with Ezekiel 1:4-14.

I agree though that the delineation of the desert encampment is but a mere shadow of the court in the third heaven.

The 4 living creatures of Revelation are represented by the cherubim.
The cherubim are representative figures as they are said to have multiple sets of wings and faces.

When you read “cherubim” you might think of the raptured holy ones because that’s who they represent.

Angels don’t have wings or multiple faces. They appear men.

 

[LeviR]

From Hebrews 7:3 "He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever."

So Melchizedek started as mortal, but has no father or mother?

Christ is compared as the same. Without mortal parents.
Because, when one is made immortal, he no longer has parents. And immortal life is eternal life. It has no beginning or end to it.

 

[LeviR]

Mel was a mortal man until he became an immortal man. Since he became an immortal man, he has no parents. And since he became an immortal man, he has no beginning of days or end of life because he has eternal life.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

Christ is compared as the same. Without mortal parents.

Christ is the Word of God and God before time. Are you suggesting Christ started as mortal then became immortal? I hope you say no.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

The 4 living creatures of Revelation are represented by the cherubim.
The cherubim are representative figures as they are said to have multiple sets of wings and faces.

When you read “cherubim” you might think of the raptured holy ones because that’s who they represent.

Angels don’t have wings or multiple faces. They appear men.

4 living creatures in Ezekiel 1 or Revelation 4 are just that, four living creatures surrounding God's throne.

I shall wait until resurrection to fully know what the 4 living creatures really are or represent. It's better knowing the extent you don't know rather than not knowing the extent you know.

 

[Follower Of Christ]

Mel was a mortal man until he became an immortal man. Since he became an immortal man, he has no parents. And since he became an immortal man, he has no beginning of days or end of life because he has eternal life.

Man is mortal by definition and once man dies he or she lies asleep in the grave awaiting resurrection in the millennium or the judgement day.

Please provide scripture verses that support your view that Melchizedek was mortal then became immortal.

 

[Beetow]

.
A really huge advantage to having a high priest in Heaven patterned after
Melchizedek's high priesthood is timing, to wit: according to Deut 5:2-4 & Gal 3:17,
the laws of God are not retroactive.

Seeing as how Melchizedek was working with God prior to the institution of the
covenant that Moses' people agreed upon with God per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy, then none of the curses for non compliance listed at Lev 26:14
39, Deut 27:15-26, and Deut 28:15-68 were a danger to either Mel or his
constituents, among whom was Abraham. For example:

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to him and said, "I am
God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." (Gen 17:1)

God's will for Abraham wasn't delivered with consequences for non compliance
because Abraham was on an honor system rather than a legal system. That very
same advantage is enjoyed by folks unified with Christ.
_