Hebrews 7:3
The King of Salem: He has no mother and no father or any ancestors- no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the son of God.
His attributes sound greater than even Christ himself. Can any Christian explain this guy?
2006-12-06 23:54:31 · 6 answers · asked by TRuth Hurts 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yes Lady Christmas, but that is not a RIGHT translation according to the most ancient texts. It's been changed to please the translators.
2006-12-07 00:05:37 · update #1
Thankyou Suzanne!
2006-12-07 01:31:30 · update #2
Melchizedek is another "type" of Christ found in the Old Testament - He served as a foreshadowing of Christ, like the other examples given in the book of Hebrews.
You misunderstand or misstate the writer's argument: it is not to draw attention to Melchizedek's life per se but to draw attention to the excellency of Christ. Melchizedek "resembles the son of God" (your translation) but he is not the son of God and he does not deserve worship.
But I think you know this and are just trying to be argumentative.
But I agree, the shadowy figure of Melchizedek is fascinating!!
god bless
2006-12-07 00:21:43 · answer #1 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Contrary to what some Christians may tell you, Melchizedek is NOT the "pre-incarnate" Jesus Christ. Such Christians aren't aware this is an issue where a Jewish perspective is needed.
The reference to Melchizedek being without lineage doesn't mean he didn't have an actual mother or father. It means his priesthood wasn't INHERITED, as the sons of Aaron inherited the Jewish priesthood (see Numbers 18, especially verse 1). Instead, Melchizedek was annointed by God to be of a different priesthood; not due to his lineage, but because of who he was.
We all know Jesus was born of the lineage of Judah, through David. As such, even He would be disqualified to be a priest in the Temple. But when the New Covenant came (see Jeremiah 31:31), God decreed that a new priesthood was necessary (Hebrews 7): as prophesied hundreds of years before, Jesus was made our High Priest, according to the Order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4). Each Born Again believer is a priest according to the Order of Melchizedek (1 Peter 2:5 and 9). None of us inherited this priesthood; we were individually annointed to be part of it (2 Cor. 1:21, 1 John 2:20 and 27).
I hope this helps. Peace.
2006-12-07 00:10:17 · answer #2 · answered by Suzanne: YPA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A more modern translation of the Bible has the verse written this way:
No one knows anything about Melchizedek's father, mother, or ancestors. No one knows when he was born or when he died. Like the Son of God, Melchizedek continues to be a priest forever.
2006-12-06 23:57:46 · answer #3 · answered by They call me ... Trixie. 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He was of the types and shadows and Hebrews is comparing Christ to all who had come before like Moses, Aaron, Angels and is showing how Christ is greater than all of them. So we do not worship the types which have gone away now that the reality has come.
2006-12-07 00:10:45 · answer #4 · answered by beek 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Apparently there is a resemblance, according to Scripture, but he'd not be Jesus, would he? :)
2006-12-07 00:11:29 · answer #5 · answered by arewethereyet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is a symble of God one abraham respected to tithe to as later they were told to tithe to God.
2006-12-06 23:59:49 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋