Melchizedek Priesthood (Christianity)
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The Melchizedek Priesthood is the name of several priesthoods.
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[edit] The Melchizedek Priesthood in Scripture
From the day that Moses brought the Torah/the Law down from Mount Sinai it was the tribe of Levi who were commissioned to serve as priests before YHVH, the God of Israel. This continued on into the era of the Kings of Israel. Melchizedek, King of Salem, a contemporary of Abraham, was not from the tribe of Levi and in fact pre-dated the patriarch Levi by two generations. The Torah and the Old Testament affirms that Melchizedek was "priest of God Most High." (Genesis 14:18) King David in the Psalms refers to the future King of kings or Messiah as a "priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek." (Psalm 110:1-4.)
Melchizedek is referred to again in Hebrews 5:6-10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-21: "Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek"; and Hebrews 8:1. The writer to the Hebrews points out that Melchizedek received tithes from Abraham. Since Levi was as yet unconceived by Abraham when he gave tithes to Melchizedek then it follows that the priestly office of Melchizedek is greater than the priesthood of Levi.
And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham: But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises" (Hebrews 7:5-6).
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law" (Hebrews 7:11-12).
Hebrews 7:3 in the New Testament refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy," a reference which some Christians take as a type of Christ.
[edit] Interpretations of the Melchizedek Priesthood
Catholics find the roots of their priesthood in the tradition of Melchizedek. In Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek offers a sacrifice of bread and wine. Christ therefore fulfilled the prophecy of Ps 110:4, that he would be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," at the Last Supper, when he broke and shared bread with his disciples. Catholics take seriously Christ's command that the Apostles should "do this in memory of Me." As such, the Church continues to offer sacrifices of bread and wine at Mass, as part of the sacrament of the Eucharist.
Some Christian evangelicals and Messianic Jews believe that it will be Jesus Christ/Yeshua Hamashiach who will return as the true Messiah. According to this view, which is taken from a literalist interpretation of Revelation 20, he will serve as both king and high Priest in a coming millennium of the Messiah.
A Christian interpretation that better represents Protestant traditions of the Book of Hebrews holds that Jesus is the eternal priest. His once-made sacrifice fulfilled the need for atonement of sins and he currently rules within the Church. In this view, Jesus has ever been, is, and will ever be the only totally perfect priest (Hebrews 9–-7). Amillennialists affirm that the messiah has already come and his earthly role has been fulfilled. Therefore the need for earthly priests and sacrifices has ended and there will be no requirement for any future earthly Messiah. This is contrary to millenarianism which expects a pre-millennial return of Christ as Messiah.
Some heterodox Christians believe Jesus came to Earth at various times before the New Testament, including once as Melchizedek himself. Others still maintain that Melchizedek is actually Saint Michael: Michael is designated in the Book of Enoch as "the prince of Israel." He is the angel of forbearance and mercy (Enoch, xl:3) who taught Enoch the mysteries of clemency and justice (lxxi:2). In the book of Jubilees (i:27 and ii:1), the angel who is said to have instructed Moses on Mount Sinai and to have delivered to him the tables of the Law is most probably Michael. Still others believe that Michael is Jesus.
[edit] In the theology of the Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints relies on additional scripture beyond the Bible, including the Doctrine and Covenants, the Book of Mormon, and the Pearl of Great Price. Some of the Mormon scriptures specifically concern the biblical figure Melchizedek.
According to these sources, through the righteous exercise of priesthood, Melchizedek preached repentance to the people of a wicked town, and established peace in the land. According to Alma 13:18, Melchizedek's efforts earned him the title of "the prince of peace." Of particular importance is the parallel Hebrew meaning of "prince of peace" and "king of Salem," another of Melchizedek's titles, and his association with (or typology of) Jesus Christ, who is also called the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:2) as well as the Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14). Later, Melchizedek's people were caught up, or "translated" (instantaneous progression from mortal existence to a heavenly state), to meet the city of Enoch (JST 14:32). The Doctrine and Covenants names Melchizedek as a high priest, and explains why the Melchizedek priesthood is so named (Covenant 107:2).
Some people believe that Shem, one of the sons of Noah, was Melchizedek, although no position or doctrine detailing such a belief has been officially adopted by the LDS Church.
[edit] The historical Melchizedek
Melchizedek is a figure in the Hebrew Bible. There is no other evidence other than the Bible record that indicates that Melchizedek was a historical figure. Some liberal scholars have taken this and argued that grammar and stylistic considerations indicate that the account of Melchizedek is actually a non-Jewish tradition which was inserted later due to its mentioning of Abraham.
[edit] Representative of the priestly line
In some translations, Psalms names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's Davidic line was ordained. Alternatively, it may be more accurate that this term was here intended to be treated as an agglutinated improper noun, and thus translated as rightful king rather than left as Melchizedek; this interpretation is taken by some modern translations, such as the New JPS Tanakh.
[edit] The Melchizedek Priesthood and Christianity
Christians believe that Jesus is the Messiah spoken of as "a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110:4), and so Jesus plays the role of High Priest once and for all. Jesus is considered a priest in the order of Melchizedek because, like Melchizedek, Jesus was not a Levite, and thus would not qualify for the Levitical priesthood (Heb. 7:13-17).
The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews in the New Testament discussed this subject considerably, listing the following reasons for why the priesthood of Melchizedek is superior to the Aaronic priesthood:
- Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek; later, the Levites would receive tithes from their countrymen. Since Aaron was in Abraham's loins then, it was as if the Aaronic priesthood were paying tithes to Melchizedek. (Heb. 7:4-10)
- The one who blesses is always greater than the one being blessed. Thus, Melchizedek was greater than Abraham. As Levi was yet in the loins of Abraham, it follows that Melchizedek is greater than Levi. (Heb. 7:7-10)
- If the priesthood of Aaron were effective, God would not have called a new priest in a different order in Psalm 110. (Heb. 7:11)
- The basis of the Aaronic priesthood was ancestry; the basis of the priesthood of Melchizedek is everlasting life. That is, there is no interruption due to a priest's death. (Heb. 7:8,15-16,23-25)
- Christ, being sinless, does not need a sacrifice for his own sins. (Heb. 7:26-27)
- The priesthood of Melchizedek is more effective because it required a single sacrifice once and for all (Jesus), while the Levitical priesthood made endless sacrifices. (Heb. 7:27)
- The Aaronic priests serve (or, rather, served) in an earthly copy and shadow of the heavenly Temple, which Jesus serves in. (Heb. 8:5)
The epistle goes on to say that the covenant of Jesus is superior to the covenant the Levitical priesthood is under. Some Christians hold that Melchizedek was a type of Christ, and some heterodox Christians hold that Melchizedek indeed was Christ. Reasons provided include that Melchizedek's name means "king of righteousness" according to the author of Hebrews, and that being king of Salem makes Melchizedek the "king of peace." Heb. 7:3 states, "Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he (Melchizedek) remains a priest forever." Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine, which Christians consider symbols of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, the sacrifice to confirm a covenant.
[edit] See also
- The Melchizedek priesthood is a prominent feature of "Mormonism" - that is, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
- Melchizedek is a character in The Alchemist.
- Melchizedek is the main brain of Salem in the Battle Angel Alita (GUNNM) graphic novel series.
- The Urantia Book describes as non-fiction, among other things, the origin and purpose of a vast array of spiritual beings, including an order of beings called "Melchizedek". However, "The Urantia Book" blends Biblical allusion to Melchizedek into a book of fiction involving aliens.
[edit] External links
- Biblaridion magazine: Psalm 110 and Melchizedek – Part one
- Biblaridion magazine: Psalm 110 and Melchizedek – Part two
- [1] The Melchizedek priesthood in the theology of the Catholic Mass
- This article is about the biblical figure. Alternatively, you may be looking for the article on Melchisédech Thévenot (ca. 1620-1692)
