Who Was Melchizedek?

Name: Teresa
Question: Hi Brandon. Thank you for all your studies. I just read (twice) your work on “Why is the Trinity so confusing”. It all made sense, but I need help in understanding one scripture. If you have a few extra minutes I would appreciate your help please.

Colossians 1:5 “the firstborn” and Hebrews 1:5 “this day have I begotten thee” are both indicating a beginning, a starting point. But in Hebrews 7:3 “having neither beginning of days, nor end of life” referring to Melchisedec (Christ).

What am I missing? Thank you in advance for your response.

Answer: Teresa, thank you for the question.

I would agree with you on Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:4-5.

However, I do not believe Melchizedek was Jesus.

Instead, I believe Scripture explains, Melchizedek was a foreshadow of Christ who would later come, (Hebrews 7). This becomes evident as the two are compared and contrasted in Scripture, which never indicates the two are one and the same.

Melchizedek Was Not Jesus

From the first two Scriptures you mentioned, we know the Son Jesus Christ is not the Father, as the Son had a beginning, while the Father did not, (Psalms 90:2, Isaiah 44:6).

So, if Melchizedek was Jesus, then Jesus did not have a beginning. Yet, Scripture clearly tells us, Jesus did have a beginning, (Joh 17:5, Col 1:15, Heb 1:4-5).

Therefore, Melchizedek cannot be Jesus, otherwise, the Bible contradicts itself.

So, if we take Hebrews 7:3 literally, then Melchizedek was God, since God does not have a beginning. Of course, I do not believe that either. I am just trying to compare and contrast for you here, so you can rule things out.

So this tells me, Melchizedek was not God or Christ.

Let’s read Hebrews together.

Hebrews 7:3
Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

We are told, Melchizedek did not have a beginning of days, nor end of life, but he was “made”.

See the rub there?

Melchizedek had no beginning, but he did have a beginning.

Look up the word “made”.

It means, “assimilate closely, make like”.

The opening statement in this verse is more of a Hebrew idiom. In fact, “without father” means, “unrecorded paternity”, “without mother” means, “unknown maternity”, and “without descent” means, “unregistered as to birth”. Just like Aaron’s sons, (Nehemiah 7:64).

Melchizedek’s ancestry was simply unknown, not that he didn’t have any ancestry at all.

Melchizedek was “made” closely to the Son of God. Not that he was the Son of God. Melchizedek was made like the Son of God in the sense that he was a righteous man, king, and priest.

Melchizedek Was A Priest Of God, Not The Son Of God

Let’s look at some more verses.

Hebrews 7:1, 4
1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

Melchizedek wasn’t God, we get that, but he was a priest of God’s, not the Son of God.

Melchizedek was a great man, but not the Son of God. In fact, Melchizedek was so great, that Abraham gave him a tithe. Now if Melchizedek was Christ, would that really be something to brag about? I mean, shouldn’t the Son of God receive something greater than a tithe?

Nothing in these verses seem to indicate Melchizedek was Divine.

We need more Scripture.

Hebrews 5:5-6
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.

6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Christ is begotten, the claimed Son.

Yet, when we read the next verse, we see Jesus is even a high priest after the order of Melchizedek, after someone else. Not after Himself, not that Jesus was Melchizedek.

The Testament Of Jesus Is Better Than Melchizedek

More Scripture yet,

Hebrews 7:21-22
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek:)

22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

The Testament of Jesus, even the New Testament was surely better than the law Melchizedek brought forward.

Why?

Melchizedek would have brought forward the Old Testament law, which we know, much was fulfilled through Jesus Christ, (Colossians 2:14).

Melchizedek Was An Example Of Christ

Despite what we have covered here, I think it’s important to understand, there are only three verses in the entire Bible that really offer insight into Melchizedek. Those being, Genesis 14:18-20.

All the other Scriptures do not tell us who he was.

If Melchizedek was Jesus, which would contradict the Bible, then why such few notes about him in God’s Word?

Now think about this for a moment.

  • Since Melchizedek was a “high priest of God,” if Jesus was Melchizedek, then how could Jesus be the “high priest of God,” if Jesus was God the Father?
  • That would mean, Melchizedek is Jesus and Jesus is God.
  • Can you be the high priest of yourself?

Of course not.

So we begin to see the problems doctrines of men bring to our feet. As we outlined, Jesus cannot be Melchizedek. Moreover, if one believes in the trinity, then it makes it utterly impossible for Jesus to be Melchizedek.

Further,

  • Why would Jesus have come as Melchizedek, what’s the point?
  • To teach and lead a single community in Canaan?

God’s scope, message, and hope is much deeper than a single community. It spans the entire world. Moreover, why would Jesus come as Melchizedek, and have need of a tithe from Abraham?

In my opinion, this belief cheapens Jesus Christ and introduces contradictions. Instead, I believe Scripture explains, Melchizedek who was a king and priest was simply an example of King and Priest Jesus Christ who would later come.

Regardless, if it were true, then the Bible would have contradicted itself. Either Jesus had a beginning, or He didn’t. It cannot be both ways.

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