Introduction:
Melchisedec, also spelled Melchizedek, is a significant yet enigmatic figure in the Bible, appearing in both the Old and New Testaments. His name is often interpreted as "king of righteousness," and he is described as the "king of Salem" and "priest of God Most High." Melchisedec's unique role as both king and priest prefigures the dual offices of Jesus Christ, making him a pivotal figure in biblical typology.

Biblical References:

1. Genesis 14:18-20 :
Melchisedec first appears in the narrative of Genesis, where he meets Abram (later Abraham) after Abram's victory over the kings. "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram and said: 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything." This passage highlights Melchisedec's dual role as both king and priest, and his blessing of Abram signifies his spiritual authority.

2. Psalm 110:4 :
Melchisedec is mentioned in a messianic psalm attributed to David: "The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: 'You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.'" This verse is prophetic, pointing to a future priest-king who will embody the eternal priesthood of Melchisedec, a role ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

3. Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1-17 :
The New Testament book of Hebrews provides an extensive exposition on Melchisedec, emphasizing his typological significance in relation to Christ. Hebrews 7:1-3 states, "This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means 'king of righteousness.' Then also, 'king of Salem' means 'king of peace.' Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest forever." The author of Hebrews uses Melchisedec to illustrate the superiority of Christ's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, emphasizing its eternal and unchangeable nature.

Theological Significance:

Melchisedec's appearance in the biblical narrative serves as a profound typology of Christ. His dual role as king and priest foreshadows the messianic office of Jesus, who is both the King of Kings and the Great High Priest. The lack of genealogical record for Melchisedec in Scripture is used in Hebrews to symbolize the eternal nature of Christ's priesthood, which is not based on lineage but on the power of an indestructible life.

Historical and Cultural Context:

Melchisedec's title as "king of Salem" is often associated with the ancient city of Jerusalem. The combination of kingly and priestly roles was rare in the ancient Near East, making Melchisedec's position unique and significant. His offering of bread and wine to Abram has been seen by many Christian theologians as a precursor to the Eucharist, further linking Melchisedec to Christ.

Conclusion:

Melchisedec remains a mysterious yet pivotal figure within the biblical canon. His brief but impactful appearances in Scripture provide a rich foundation for understanding the nature and work of Jesus Christ, who fulfills the eternal priesthood and kingship that Melchisedec typifies.Melchisedec

(king of righteousness). (Hebrews 5:1; Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 7:1) ... [MELCHIZEDEK]

MELCHIZEDEK; MELCHISEDEC

mel-kiz'e-dek, and (the King James Version in the book of Hebrews) (malki-tsedheq, "Tsedheq, or Tsidhiq is my king" (Genesis 14:18 Psalm 110:4); Melchisedek (Hebrews 5:6, 10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1, 10, 11, 15, 17)): The name is explained in Hebrews 7:2 as "king of righteousness," with "-i" as the old genitive ending; but the correct explanation is no doubt the one given above; compare Adoni-zedek in Joshua 10:1, where Septuagint with Judges 1:5-7 has Adonibezek. Melchizedek was king of Salem (= Jerusalem) and "a priest unto 'El `Elyon" (Genesis 14:18). He brought bread and wine to Abraham after the latter's victory over the kings, and also bestowed upon him the blessing of 'El `Elyon. Abraham gave him "a tenth of all," i.e. of the booty probably, unless it be of all his possessions. Genesis 14:22 identifies Yahweh with 'El `Elyon, the title of the Deity as worshipped at Jerusalem; and so Hebrews 7:1;, following Septuagint of Genesis 14:18;, calls Melchizedek. "priest of God Most High," i.e. Yahweh.

Skinner (Gen, 271, where Josephus, Ant, XVI, vi, 2, and Am M 6:1 are cited) points out that the Maccabees were called "high priests of God most high." Hence, some hold that the story of Melchizedek is an invention of Judaism, but Gunkel (Genesis 3, 285;) maintains that he is a traditional, if not a historical, character.

Psalm 110:4 makes the klng-priest who is addressed there a virtual successor of Melchizedek, and the kings of Jerusalem might well, as Gunkel suggests, have been considered successors of Melchizedek in the same way that Charlemagne was regarded as the successor of the Caesars, and the latter as successors of the Pharaohs in Egypt. This leads naturally to an early date being ascribed to Psalm 110.

The thought of a priest after the order of Melchizedek is taken up by the author of Hebrews. He wanted to prove the claim of Christ to be called priest. It was impossible, even had he so wished, to consider Jesus as an Aaronic priest, for He was descended from the tribe of Judah and not from that of Levi (7:14). The words of Psalm 110:4 are taken to refer to Him (Hebrews 5:5 f), and in Hebrews 7:5; the order of Melchizedek is held to be higher than that of Aaron, for the superiority of Melchizedek was acknowledged by Abraham (a) when he paid tithes to Melchizedek and (b) when he was blessed by Melchizedek, for "the less is blessed of the better." It might be added that Jesus can be considered a priest after the order of Melchizedek in virtue of His descent from David, if the latter be regarded as successor to Melchizedek But the author of He does not explicitly say this. Further, Aaron is only a "type" brought forward in He to show the more excellent glory of the work of Jesus, whereas Melchizedek is "made like unto the Son of God" (7:3), and Jesus is said to be "after the likeness of Melchizedek" (7:15).

Hebrews 7:1; presents difficulties. Where did the author get the material for this description of Melchizedek?

(1) Melchizedek is said to be "without father, without mother, (i.e.) without genealogy"; and

(2) he is described as "having neither beginning of days nor end of life"; he "abideth a priest continually."

The answer is perhaps to be had among the Tell el-Amarna Letters, among which are at least 6, probably 8, letters from a king of Urusalim to Amenophis IV, king of Egypt, whose "slave" the former calls himself. Urusalim is to be identified with Jerusalem, and the letters belong to circa 1400 B.C. The name of this king is given as Abd-Khiba (or Abd-chiba), though Hommel, quoted by G.A. Smith, Jerusalem, II, 14, note 7, reads Chiba. Zimmer, in ZA, 1891, 246, says that it can be read Abditaba, and so Sayce (HDB, III, 335b) calls him `ebhedh tobh. The king tells his Egyptian overlord, "Neither my father nor my mother set me in this place: the mighty arm of the king (or, according to Sayce, "the arm of the mighty king") established me in my father's house" (Letter 102 in Berlin collection, ll. 9-13; also number 103, ll. 25-28; number 104, ll. 13-15; see, further, H. Winckler, Die Thontafeln von Tell-el-Amarna; Knudtzon, Beitrage zur Assyriologie, IV, 101;, 279;, cited by G.A. Smith, Jerusalem, II, 8, note 1).

It thus becomes clear that possibly tradition identified Melchizedek with Abd-Khiba. At any rate the idea that Melchizedek was "without father, without mother, (i.e.) without genealogy" can easily be explained if the words of Abd-Khiba concerning himself can have been also attributed to Melchizedek. The words meant originally that he acknowledged that he did not come to the throne because he had a claim on it through descent; he owed it to appointment. But Jewish interpretation explained them as implying that he had no father or mother. Psalm 110:4 had spoken of the king there as being "a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek," and this seems to have been taken to involve the perpetuity of Melchizedek also as priest. Melchizedek was then thought of as "having neither beginning of days" = "without father, without mother, without genealogy," and again as not having "end of life" = "abideth a priest continually." Hence, he is "made like unto the son of God," having neither beginning of days nor end of life. We get another New Testament example of Jewish interpretation in Galatians 4:21;. We have no actual proof that Melchizedek is identical with Abd-Khiba; possibly the reference to the former as being "without father," etc., is not to be explained as above. But why should Melchizedek, and he alone, of all the Old Testament characters be thought of in this way?

Westcott, Hebrews, 199, has a suggestive thought about Melchizedek: "The lessons of his appearance lie in the appearance itself. Abraham marks a new departure..... But before the fresh order is established we have a vision of the old in its superior majesty; and this, on the eve of disappearance, gives its blessing to the new."

On the references to Melchizedek in Philo see Westcott, op. cit., 201; F. Rendall, Hebrews, App., 58;; and especially (with the passages and other authorities cited there) G. Milligan, Theology of Epistle to the Hebrews, 203;.

The conclusions we come to are:

(1) There was a tradition in Jerusalem of Melchizedek, a king in pre-Israelitish times, who was also priest to 'El `Elyon. This is the origin of Genesis 14:18;, where 'El `Elyon is identified with Yahweh.

(2) Psalm 110 makes use of this tradition and the Psalmist's king is regarded as Melchizedek's successor.

(3) The Epistle to the Hebrews makes use of

(a) Psalm 110, which is taken to be a prophecy of Christ, (b) of Genesis 14:18;, and

(c) of oral tradition which was not found in the Old Testament. It is this unwritten tradition that is possibly explained by the Tell el-Amarna Letters. See , further, articles by Sayce, Driver, and Hommel in Expository Times, VII, VIII.

See alsoJERUSALEM.

David Francis Roberts

3198. Melchisedek -- Melchizedek, OT king of Salem
... Melchizedek. Of Hebrew origin (Malkiy-Tsedeq); Melchisedek (ie Malkitsedek),
a patriarch -- Melchisedec. see HEBREW Malkiy-Tsedeq. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3198.htm - 6k

Christ Our High Priest.
... for under it hath the people received the law), what further need was there that
another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be ...
/.../xi christ our high priest.htm

Hebrews vii. 3-Jan
... frederic gardiner, dd late professor in the berkeley divinity school, middletown,
Homily XII. Hebrews vii. 1-3. Hebrews vii.1-3 "For this Melchisedec, King of ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily xii hebrews vii 3-jan.htm

On the Priestly Office of Christ
... through the mode of merit,") has been constituted a priest, by God, not according
to the order of Levi, but according to that of Melchisedec, who was "priest ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 2/disputation xxxv on the priestly.htm

Dialogue ii. --The Unconfounded.
... But that I may make this point clearer to you from yet another authority, call to
mind the words used of Melchisedec in the Epistle to the Hebrews. ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue ii the unconfounded.htm

Melchisedecians.
... all their assertions similarly with those which have been already specified,
introducing one only alteration, viz., in respect of regarding Melchisedec as a ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xx melchisedecians.htm

The Melchisedecians; the Nicolaitans.
... who himself also was styled Theodotus, and who was by trade a banker, [890] attempted
to establish (the doctrine), that a certain Melchisedec constitutes the ...
/.../chapter xxiv the melchisedecians the nicolaitans.htm

How Abram Fought with the Assyrians, and Overcame Them, and Saved ...
... Now the king of Sodom met him at a certain place, which they called The King's
Dale, where Melchisedec, king of the city Salem, received him. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 10 how abram fought.htm

Hebrews vii. 14-Nov
... for under it the people have received the law' [2951] ) what further need was there
that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be ...
/.../homily xiii hebrews vii 14-nov.htm

The Never Changing One.
... excellent than they (Heb. i:3-5). He is addressed by God as high priest according
to the order of Melchisedec (v:10). We gaze into the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the never changing one.htm

Christ a Complete Saviour:
... the greatness of his person, in that he preferreth him before Abraham, who is the
father of us all; yea, in that he preferreth him before Melchisedec, who was ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/christ a complete saviour .htm

Melchisedec (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia MELCHIZEDEK; MELCHISEDEC. ... See also JERUSALEM. David
Francis Roberts. Multi-Version Concordance Melchisedec (10 Occurrences). ...
/m/melchisedec.htm - 17k

Melchisedek (11 Occurrences)

/m/melchisedek.htm - 9k

Whither (151 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS YLT). Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,
made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. ...
/w/whither.htm - 40k

Testifieth (13 Occurrences)
... of God: (WBS). Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchisedec. (KJV WBS). Revelation 22 ...
/t/testifieth.htm - 9k

Melchizedek (12 Occurrences)
... Melchizedek in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
MELCHIZEDEK; MELCHISEDEC. mel-kiz'e-dek, and (the King ...
/m/melchizedek.htm - 19k

Melchiel

/m/melchiel.htm - 6k

Connexion (9 Occurrences)
... had their law given to them in connexion with it, what need was there still that
a different priest should arise according to the order of Melchisedec, and not ...
/c/connexion.htm - 9k

Addressed (23 Occurrences)
... which is Christ. (BBE). Hebrews 5:10 addressed by God as high priest according
to the order of Melchisedec. (DBY YLT). Hebrews 7:21 ...
/a/addressed.htm - 13k

Ariseth (20 Occurrences)
... (ASV). Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude
of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/a/ariseth.htm - 12k

Similitude (18 Occurrences)
... (KJV WBS). Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude
of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, (KJV DBY WBS YLT). ...
/s/similitude.htm - 13k

Who was Melchizedek? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Melchizedek priesthood? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jesus the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

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