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Melchizedek

Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by menageriekeeper, Apr 13, 2011.

  1. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    His name is mentioned only twice. Why?

    And why does the Bible say that Christ was a priest of his (Mel's) order?

    What order??
     
  2. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    Who knows? Lots of shadowy figures in the Bible are only mentioned once or twice. Actually Melchizedek is mentioned 3 times--in Genesis, Psalms and Hebrews.
    For starters, he brought out bread and wine, just like Jesus. Also he was made like the son of God, king of Salem, remains a priest forever. He is an O.T. type of Christ. Some scholars say he was Jesus but I disagree.
    As to be distinguished from the order of Aaron.
     
  3. Tom Butler

    Tom Butler New Member

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    I came on one website which contended that Mel was actually Shem.
     
  4. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    Strange. :confused: I don't get the connection.
     
  5. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    Thanks for your response Zenas, but I don't understand what you mean by this:

    I realize that Mel. was the king of Salem, but why would that mean he was a priest forever?
     
  6. Deacon

    Deacon Well-Known Member
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    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.
    See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils!
    Hebrews 7:1–4 (ESV)
     
  7. Brother Jeremy Slone

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    For me this was Christ before he came made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death. I heard from an old school baptist that he always believed it was Christ but had settled on it being Shem. I don't see it and still hold to it being Christ before his coming in a body of flesh to suffer death as the lamb of God. All the reasons that was given to me why, did not convince me because I have scriptures to hold to as well. The Shem just sounded as a riddle to me and did not convince me.

    The Levite order did not work for Christ because the High Priest under the law was High Priest until he died but Christ is the High Priest for ever. The Shem position was explained because he did not die in the world before the flood and was not born in the world after the flood. But his Father (Noah) and Mother came with him from one world to the next. We know Jesus Christ had a Father the Lord God and mother was Mary with a genealogy But Christ came from God as the Word of God. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. Christ as the Word did not have a father or mother or genealogy until he was made flesh. I have a hard time with Jesus coming in any order of mortal man and hold to Melchezedec being Christ. But am interested in any arguments you all may have on this subject.
     
  8. convicted1

    convicted1 Guest

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    I have thought that King Melchisedec(sp?) was God the Father. It says He was without father, and without mother. Jesus has a heavenly Father, so this is why I believe that the King of Salem(peace), is God the Father. It also says He was without days. But to say that King Melchisedec is Jesus, I can accept also.....I have just believed it to be God the Father.

    i am I AM's!!

    Willis

    Edited: I stand corrected. King Melchisedec is Jesus!! See, I can admit when I am wrong!!!
     
    #8 convicted1, Apr 16, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2011
  9. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Melchizedek, without father, without mother, without descendant, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, king of righteousness, king of peace (Salem), priest of the Most High God, a superb type of Christ.

    As usual, I like Pink on this. 'From Gleanings in Genesis' by A.W. Pink:

    http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Gleanings_Genesis/genesis_19.htm

    Some have thought he was Shem who was a contemporary of Abram’s for a hundred years; but this cannot be, for we are distinctly informed concerning Melchizedek that he was "without father, without mother" (Heb. 7:3), which, as we shall see, means that Scripture is absolutely silent concerning his genealogy. This then disposes of the Shem theory, for we do know who his father was. Others have concluded that he was Christ Himself, but this supposition is equally unscriptural for we are told that Melchizedek is "made like unto the Son of God" and that Christ’s priesthood is "after the similitude of Melchizedek" (Heb. 7:3, 15), which could not be said if Melchizedek were Christ Himself. Still others have supposed that he was some mysterious celestial being, but that is emphatically negatived by Hebrews 7:4, where Melchizedek is expressly called a "man."

    In the words "made like unto the Son of God" (Heb. 7:3) we have the key to the mystery which centers around Melchizedek. Melchizedek was a type of Christ, and particularly a type of our Lord’s priesthood. There are other points of resemblance which we shall consider below, but the first point of analogy between Melchizedek and the Son of God singled out by the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 7 is that he is "without father, without mother, without descendant, having neither beginning of days nor end of life." This does not mean that Melehizedek was a supernatural, a divine being, but that he is presented to us in the Old Testament as without father or mother, etc. In other words, the silence of the Old Testament Scriptures concerning his parentage has a designed significance. The entire omission of any reference to Melchizedek’s ancestry, birth or death, was ordered by the Holy Spirit (who "moved" Moses both in what he inserted and what he left out of the Genesis narrative) in order to present a perfect type of the Lord Jesus. No information concerning the genealogy of Melchizedek is recorded in Genesis, which is a book that abounds in genealogies. This is an instance where speech is silvern and silence golden. The silence was in order that there might be a nearer approximation between the type and the glorious antitype.

    Not only was Melehizedek a type of our Lord in the fact that he is presented to us in Genesis as being "without father, without mother," but also in a number of other important particulars. Melchizedek was a priest—"the priest of the Most High God" (Gen. 14:18). But not only so, he was a king—"King of Salem "—and therefore a royal priest. In the person of Melchizedek the offices of priest and king were combined, and thus was he a notable type of our great High Priest who according to the flesh was not of the tribe of Levi, but of the tribe of Judah, the royal tribe (see Heb. 7:14). Not only was Melchizedek a type of the royal priesthood of Christ by virtue of his office as King of Salem (which means "peace") but his name also had a typical significance. "Melehizedek" means "king of righteousness." Here again there is a wonderful and blessed bringing together of things which out of Christ are divorced. Not only did Melchizedek combine in his person the offices of king and priest, but in his titles he united righteousness and peace. Melchizedek was both king of righteousness and king of peace and thus did he foreshadow the blessed result of the cross work of our adorable Lord, for it was at the Cross that "mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other" (Ps. 85:10).
     
    #9 kyredneck, Apr 16, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 16, 2011
  10. Martin Marprelate

    Martin Marprelate Well-Known Member
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    Psalm 110:4. 'The LORD has sworn and will not relent, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."' The 'You' is obviously the Lord Jesus (Mark 12:36 etc.) so where's your problem?

    Steve
     
  11. Aaron

    Aaron Member
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    :thumbs:

    In most things A. W. Pink is solid. Notice also that Melchizedek was priest of the "Most High God," (El Elyon) which is the name by which God reveals Himself to the gentiles. There were no priests of the LORD, (Yahweh) in those days. Melchizedek predates the Law. It's an eternal priesthood and exists by virtue of an endless life. The Levitical priesthood was temporary and created according to a carnal commandment.
     
  12. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    He had no beginning nor end and was set apart by God
     
  13. revmwc

    revmwc Well-Known Member

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    Christ came as King and Priest thus after the order of Melchizedek.
     
  14. menageriekeeper

    menageriekeeper Active Member

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    Now that is clear enough to get one's hands around! A combination of king and priest as Christ has become.

    I also find it interesting that the Genesis passage may refer to Melchizedek by the Gentile word for priest. Later on I'm going to have some questions about that and about the stuff Kyredneck posted by Pink.
     
  15. Brother Jeremy Slone

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    I believe in types and shadows to show something greater to come but to me this is not to show something greater to come as the order in of it's self is greater and to me is eternally established. I just feel Christ came in an order that was greater than any order given to men in the earth. Types and shadows are to show something greater going to Christ but this one seems to be Christ following it, which gives it a greater significances. If Christ is following it than it must be of it's self from the realms of Heaven. And that is the problem I have giving the order to a mortal man.

    Many times angels are referred to as a man but are greater than mortal man. I have looked at it as Christ before his fleshly coming and some had made the point to me that he did not come to this earth before he came in the flesh. But in the book of Daniel when it tells of the three Hebrew boys that were thrown in the fiery furnance we read in the 3rd chapter 25th verse He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. One could make the argument that the fourth was not Christ for it says the form is like the Son of God. But I believe that too was Christ before he had taken the form he was to come in of flesh. I am not saying I have it 100% right but saying this is where I hold and nothing has convinced me to move though God is able to move me by his Grace but It could be God's Grace holding me where I am, as brethren I have confidence in, do more than not disagree with me on this issue. They also said, "why would God need 10% of the spoil being God and not mortal man". But I refer them to Luke chapter 24 after he had risen and showed himself to them and in the versus 42-43 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. Though this to was strange to me but as Abraham gave 10% of the spoils to the High Priest to show a greater Principle or Teaching so he ate fish who was no longer mortal to show a lesson or truth to them as well. I have been wrong in the past and realize we grow in grace and knowledge and am like convicted 1 able to be wrong though him saying it was the Father doesn't bother me if some one holds that. For the Father, Word, and Holy Ghost are one but feel it is Christ for he was to come, Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, ..... - Hebrews 1:3 So I must confess I believe it is Christ who came in his own divine order that was greater than any order given to men on the earth.
     
    #15 Brother Jeremy Slone, Apr 16, 2011
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  16. Brother Jeremy Slone

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    I removed this one after realizing my misquote.
     
    #16 Brother Jeremy Slone, Apr 16, 2011
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  17. kyredneck

    kyredneck Well-Known Member
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    Very good point.
     
  18. Zenas

    Zenas Active Member

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    Normally I read the NASB and don’t consult other versions unless I am trying to make a comparison. With this year being the 400th anniversary of the KJV, I have been in it more than usual the last couple of months and I found something that seems to tie Melchizedek to the Davidic Kingdom. Of course Christ is the culmination of the Davidic Kingdom.

    When David brought the ark up to Jerusalem (probably the same place as Mel’s Salem), he was girded with a linen ephod—the garb of a priest! When the ark was in its tabernacle, David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord—performing the duties of a priest! Then the KJV says David gave to everyone a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine! Bread and wine, just like Melchizedek and just like Jesus!

    So scripture portrays David as both priest and king, just like Melchizedek and just like Jesus. Many people believe that David wrote the 110th Psalm for the coronation of Solomon. If this is the case, then David actually made the connection between his own dynasty and the Melchizedek priesthood. “Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

    Also, Aaron, Kyredneck and Menageriekeeper, I liked your comments on this thread.
     
    #18 Zenas, May 14, 2011
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  19. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Melchizedek was neither a Christophany, nor a Theophany. He was an established king. The king of Salem.

    Without mother or father simply means that there is no record of his birth, nor his death.

    A good explanation of who Melchizedek is can be found at www.tithing-russkelly.com

    Click on Chapter #2
     
  20. Steadfast Fred

    Steadfast Fred Active Member

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    Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

    Paul said that by the works of the Law no flesh shall be justified.

    You can rely on your law keeping, I will rely on my faith in Christ.

    But I can tell you by the authority of God's Holy Word that you have not, and can not, keep the Law. And as James so succintly put it, if you are guilty of breaking one law, you are guilty of breaking every bit of the law.
     
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