Who Was Melchizedek?

1. 64

   PhoenixVposted 10 years ago

   Who Was Melchizedek?
   
   Who Was Melchizedek? Who was Melchizedek according to Judaism? Who was Melchizedek according to Christians? What is the latest or contemporary consensus on the identity of Melchizedek?

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2. 79

   Jerry Hulseposted 10 years ago

   Some historians believe it was a son of Noah and have a good argument being the flood and 8 saved as a new beginning. Some believe it was Jesus before he was born as son of God. I am interested in this as to the answers you will receive. Be Blessed.

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   1. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      If you study the Gineology and count the years... you will find that there are huge overlaps in lifespans.  Especialy untill Shem Died which was about 80 years AFTER Abrahams meeting with Melchizedek.

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   2. 58

      andrew savageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      He cannot be the man with the pseudonym Jesus Christ, unless Christianity believes in reincarnation. Is it possible to believe in both: resurrection and reincarnation?

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3. 53

   whonunuwhoposted 10 years ago

   The book of Genesis confirms that he was the "Priests of God Most High"(14-16) In Christianity he is one of the holy Forefathers in the Calendar of Saints in the Armenian Apostolic Church. in Muslim faith, he was considered the" Permanent Imamm," or one who guided others through the ages of history. Although Jesus Christ assumes the role of High Priest, forever, he was of the order of Melchizedek. The King James Version of the Bible(KJV) describes Melchizedek as like unto "The Son Of Man" and to live forever. Some say that he as like the son of God.

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4. 87

   K9keystrokesposted 10 years ago

   I believe he was the first character to be called "priest" in the Torah (Hebrew Bible); Psalms, Genesis. He also has a presence for similar reasons in the Christian Bible; Genesis and Hebrews, that I know of for certain. He is said to be the beginning of the priestly lineage, and also is referred to as the rightful King. Some dispute how Abraham received the title of king, saying it was taken from the rightful king; while others say Melchizedek offered his priesthood to Abraham as a gift.
   Hope this helps!

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5. 71

   connorjposted 10 years ago

   The parallels between Melchizedek and Christ are significant. Could Melchizedek and Christ perhaps be the same? That is manifestations of God in different eras... I certainly have no proof; yet my heart wonders this...

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   1. 61

      tphelan88posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't believe Melchizedek was a previous manifestation of Christ, but rather a foreshadowing of the role Christ would play as both priest & king, as role not provided for in the Old Covenant, but significant that God has made a New Covenant for

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   2. 58

      andrew savageposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Not exactly. It is known that Melchizedek prayed to a deity known as El or Elohim (possibly also spelled) as opposed to YHWH. Melchizedek existed long before the Nazerite Jesus- also it is important to remember that Jesus Christ was a pseudonym.

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6. 79

   Judah's Daughterposted 10 years ago

   Considering Heb 7:3 tells us Melchizedek was “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”, some think he was the immortal Jesus in the flesh; however, he was a Gentile of which no one had record of his birth or genealogy, nor was there any record of his death.

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   1. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      NOT a Gentile.

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   2. 79

      Judah's Daughterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Do you have something to prove that, MrMaranatha?  I suppose this could be a debated topic.

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   3. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Just as you used Hebrews 7 : 3 to show him to be without any parents... :-)  I could use the same to show that he was not a Gentile.
      Both uses would not be correct use of scripture however... Hebrews was not  addressing that, but showing us Christ.

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   4. 79

      Judah's Daughterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The Levitical priesthood was of the line of Shem.  Christ was not "after the order of Aaron" (Levite), nor was Melchizedek in the genealogy of Aaron.  Jesus was of Judah and had record of earthly parents, birth and death.  (Heb 7:11)

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   5. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not here to argue with you.   But  Paul was making a statement about an attribute of Christ. He appealed to the Scriptures as they appeared with no complicated study involved.  People may take that and make more doctrine than was intended.

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   6. 79

      Judah's Daughterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      You stated Melchizedek was NOT a Gentile.  Melchizedek received tithes because of a long-standing spoils of war Semitic Canaanite law. Pagans required 10% of spoils; the Law only required 1%. Compare Gen 18:18-20 with Numbers 31. At least noteworthy.

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7. 74

   MrMaranathaposted 10 years ago

   More than Likely... Shem 
   But the Bible does not state it.. in fact the Bible seems to intentionally evade the subject in order to use him to show an atribute of the messiah.
   
   If you study the Geneology timeline you will find that SHem was still alive for a very long time after the meeting between Abraham and Melchizedek... 
   If Shem is Melchizedek, then he was the Great Great......  Grandfather of Abraham.
   Shem was also the Eldest Son of Noah and hence was the one who recieved the Adamic Priesthood from his Father Noah...
   
   This would also explain why Abraham not only recognized him on sight.... but also offered him the tithe and declared him  to be the King of Rightiousness King of Peace that Melchizedek king of Salem implies.
   
   His most important role however is not in being named... But by his namelessness... being a type to the Lord Jesus CHrist.. King and Priest forever.

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   1. 79

      Judah's Daughterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Heb 7:3 clearly states "without genealogy".  If Shem was renamed, just as Abram and Jacob were renamed, the latter are not said to be 'without genealogy'.

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   2. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Right... there was no Gineology written in the bible for the "King Of Righteousness, King of Salem" by that name.  That is not saying that He did not have parents at one time... But that it is not recorded as such in that part of the Bible.

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8. 92

   Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years ago

   Melchizedek was a priest, or King of Salem. In Hebrew literature he is considered by Targum Jonathan, Targum Yerushalmi, and the Babylonian Talmud, as the nickname for Shem, the son of Noah.

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   1. 74

      MrMaranathaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I was unaware of what the Targum and Talmud said about him.. I figured it out after a Pastor asked the Question and got me thinking about it.. later I studied the Gineology and it made sense since Shem was still alive and family Priest at the time.

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      tphelan88posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I thought Salem was a translation of the word "peace" like the Hebrew word "shalom"

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9. 61

   tphelan88posted 10 years ago

   I believe Melchizedek was, as Genesis says, "a priest of God Most High".  He is a type of Christ, meaning he helps us better understand the character and purpose of Christ.  Melchizedek was both a priest of God Most High and King of Salem (Jerusalem).  This distinction is crucial because in ancient Hebrew society these two offices of priest and king don't overlap.  The king wasn't allowed to be a priest and vice versa.  Melchizedek's kingship and priesthood foreshadow's Jesus' role as both king and priest.  As Psalm 110 says, speaking of Jesus, "You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"
   
   Melchizedek's type of Christ nature is also understood to represent the deity of Christ in that he just shows up for a couple of verses without an introduction or genealogy (Hebrews 7).  This could be interpreted as his representation of Christ's eternal nature as God.

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