THE MYSTERY OF MELCHIZEDEK

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, ²to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace. ³Without 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. ⁴Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils… ¹⁵And this is clearer still(!), if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, ¹⁶who has become a priest not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. ¹⁷For it is attested of Him, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” (Heb7:1-4; 15-17NASB)

Don’t get your hopes up

I include this excerpt from Heb7 because I am systematically going through each chapter of the New Testament, drawing out those elements which support my thesis (or indeed might be perceived as challenging it), that God’s benign providence extends well beyond those who are “the elect” – the future bride of Christ (Rev19:7 cf. 3:21). It is not included because I claim to have a full understanding of this passage – i.e. exactly who (or Who) Melchizedek was or is. But not for the first time it is helpful to refer to the Book of Enoch to fill out some of the detail, which if not entirely to be relied upon at least provides a workable theory, more particularly regarding Melchizedek ’s origins. [We simply cannot do this from canonical Scripture alone].

According to 2 Enoch

2 Enoch suggests Melchizedek was the son of Nir, Noah’s younger brother. Nir would not have been mentioned in biblical genealogies such as in Lk3 as only the firstborns are included. Nir’s wife Sopanima, who had been barren became pregnant in her old age. Somewhat prefiguring Joseph and Mary, her husband believed her to have been unfaithful . His resultant confrontation with his wife resulted in her falling dead at his feet. However her child survived and emerged from her corpse as a fully developed speaking infant. As a result of this miraculous birth, the child named Melchizedek is recognized to be a priest. According to 2 Enoch Melchizedek is then taken to paradise by Archangel Michael to be protected from the coming flood. The text also sets out a succession of priesthood, with Melchizedek being a key figure extending from Enoch and his descendants (Methuselah, Nir) to Melchizedek himself.

Enoch – an invaluable reference source

This clearly goes beyond anything recorded in the Old or New Testaments, but does not obviously contradict it. I am open to the 2 Enoch account being accurate in view of what I have discovered in 1 Enoch, namely that it necessarily fills in some important gaps in our understanding of what happened on earth pre-flood, indeed the reason for the flood itself. I also believe it to contain prophecies that have been fulfilled and are indeed currently being fulfilled. These are set out in the posts linked below.

Superiority over the Aaronic priesthood

Regardless of who exactly Melchizedek is or was, the fact that his priesthood is of the same order as that of Jesus could do nothing to detract from the broader benign providence I have set out. It could only potentially enhance it, especially perhaps for Old Testament folk living before the incarnation and ascension of Jesus as our High Priest in Heaven. The mystery of Melchizedek is intriguing, but has no obvious impact upon Christian faith or praxis. The more intelligible point being made in Heb7 is that the priesthood of which Christ has become High Priest and the Covenant pertaining to it are superior to the Aaronic priesthood of the Old Covenant it replaces. Now that certainly does impact upon Christian faith and the life of the Church and will be considered in the next few posts