Melchizedek is one of most enigmatic figures in the entire canon of Hebrew scripture. Relatively little is said about him, yet he stands as a foundational pillar for Christian priesthood in new covenant theology.
The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”
– Psalm 110:4, ESV
The verse above is central to one of the great Messianic psalms, one quoted no fewer than twelve times in the New Testament. The verse also drives the main theme of chapters five through seven in the book of Hebrews.1 Melchizedek, himself, is mentioned there nine times.
Encounter With Melchizedek
The first time we meet Melchizedek, it is a brief encounter in Genesis.
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Possessor of heaven and earth;
and blessed be God Most High,
who has delivered your enemies into your hand!”
And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
– Genesis 14:18-20, ESV
What you just read constitutes the entirety of what we know about Melchizedek from the Genesis account. He disappeared just as suddenly as he appeared.
In the encounter above, Abraham had just defeated Chedorlaomer and his allies. Abraham and his men were weary and in need of rest. Melchizedek, whose name means “King of Righteousness,” appeared to Abraham in the Valley of Shaveh (King’s Valley) blessed Abraham in the name of El Elyon (God Most High), praised God for the victory, blessed Abraham, and disappeared. Prior to Melchizedek’s disappearance, Abraham presented him with a tithe, a tenth of all he possessed.
King of Peace
In addition to his name, King of Righteousness, the text tells us Melchizedek was the King of Shalem (Salem), which means “King of Peace.” We have no record in biblical or secular history of a city called Shalem, and no historical record of a King of Shalem. Some believe Shalem was an early reference to the city of Jerusalem, and this is a plausible assertion.
Proposed Identities
A Tribal Chief
Some have asserted that Melchizedek was the chieftain of a small settlement or tribe, one of which we have no biblical or extra-biblical record. The idea is that the settlement was so small and insignificant that it escaped any historical record. This does not align at all with the lofty and exalted descriptions of Melchizedek in Scripture, particularly the book of Hebrews. We will look at that below.
Early Monarch of Jerusalem
Some speculate that Melchizedek was an early Priest-King of the city of Shalem. There is little, if any, empirical data to support this view, and its adherents endorse it simply because it aligns with ancient Near Eastern historical practices wherein bronze-age monarchs served in the additional role of chief religious officiant of their city-state.
Shem ben Noah
Some in Rabbinic Judaism hold that Melchizedek was not a Canaanite stranger at all but, rather, Abraham’s ancestor Shem, the son of Noah, who along with his family survived the great Genesis flood. The logic notes that Shem lived for 502 years following the flood which would make his lifespan overlap with Abraham’s.2
An Archangel
Some extrabiblical texts from around the second temple period view Melchizedek as an angelic, divine executor of end times judgment.
A Type of Christ
In the Type/Antitype model3 some view Melchizedek as a Type of Christ. This view points to the statement from Hebrews that another priest will arise “in the likeness of Melchizedek,”4 thus indicating a comparison between two distinct identities rather than an equivalence of identity.
A Christophany
For those of us who view the biblical text as saying what it means, it is difficult to read the Bible’s treatment of Melchizedek and see anyone other than God himself. Thus, I have come to believe that Melchizedek is a Christophany.5 The language used in Hebrews to describe Melchizedek drives me to no other possible conclusion.
- Melchizedek is the king of Salem or Shalem.6
- He is priest of El Elyon, God Most High.7
- He is the King of Righteousness.8
- He is the King of Peace.9
- He is without father, mother, or geneology.10
- He has no beginning or end of life.11
- He “resembles” the Son of God.12
- His priesthood is eternal.13
- He receives tithes and honor from Abraham.14
- He bestows blessings.15
- He is superior to Abraham.16
- He is the Type of an immutable order of priesthood.17
Referring, again, to Psalm 110, we have a messianic psalm from David18 telling us that Jesus has become a priest, forever, after the order of Melchizedek.
Describing the priesthood as “an order” indicates a succession of priests, but no such order is ever described. This anomaly is resolved when we realize that Jesus and Melchizedek are one and the same. This eternal order is vested in Jesus himself, our forever High Priest.
Melchizedek is described as without father, mother, genealogy, beginning days or ending of life. He resembles the Son of God and is a priest forever. Such language can only be applied to Jesus. No earthly king or priests remains eternally.
In the person of Melchizedek Jesus gives Abraham his blessing. Jesus is Prince of Peace, and here, King of Peace. He is the King of Righteousness, King of Kings and Lord of Lords.19 As the priest forever, he mediates between God and humanity.20
Is my case airtight? Not even close, but it is what I’ve come to believe. Abraham, weary from battle, was met by, blessed by, and nourished by Jesus himself in the form of the forever priest, “King of Righteousness.” Jesus, who continues forever, has an unchanging priesthood, and is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him as he intercedes for them.21
Blessings upon you, my friends.
Victoriously in Christ!
– damon
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1. It is quoted in Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:17, 21; and 8:44
2. Genesis 11
3. Type/Antitype refers to instances where an Old Testament symbol or figure prefigures something greater, it’s fulfilling Antitype in the New Testament. Example: T-Parting of Red Sea, AT-Baptism; T-Paschal Lamb, AT-Christ’s sacrifice; T-Bronze Serpent on Staff, AT-Jesus on Cross.
4. Hebrews 7:15
5. A Theophany is a tangible manifestation of God, tangible to human senses, e.g. the pillar of fire/cloud in the wilderness wanderings, or God in the burning bush. A Christophany is a Theophany that is specifically identified as Christ.
6. Hebrews 7:1-2
7. Hebrews 7:1
8. Hebrews 7:2 – melek (king) and tzedek (righteousness)
9. Hebrews 7:2
10. Hebrews 7:3
11. Hebrews 7:3
12. Hebrews 7:3, 15
13. Hebrews 7:3
14. Hebrews 7:4
15. Hebrews 7:1, 6
16. Hebrews 7:4, 7, 9–10
17. Hebrews 5:6, 10, 6:20, 7:11, 15, 17
18. Matthew 22:43
19. Revelation 19:16
20. 1 Timothy 2:5
21. Hebrews 7:24-25
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