After the Order of Melchizedek

Adventist Inter peopleal Institute of Advanced Studies Theological Seminary After the Order of Melchizedek A Term Paper Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the assembly line THST 619 Doctrine of the Sanctuary by Ralph D Bock October 2009 T able of table of contents CHAPTER 11 INTRODUCTION1 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY4 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY4 DELIMITATION5 METHODOLOGY5 CHAPTER 27 TYPOLOGY OF JESUS AND MELCHIZEDEK7 WHAT IS TYPOLOGY? 7 WHO IS MELCHIZEDEK? 8 AFTER THE tell OF MELCHIZEDEK10 CHAPTER 316 SUMMARY, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION16 BIBLIOGRAPHY19 CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE PHRASE AFTER THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK? PSALM one hundred ten SPEAKS ABOUT A PERSON WHO IS A superpower AND A PRIEST, BUT IN THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL THERE WAS NEVER such(prenominal) A KING. IT COULD BE THAT THE PSALM SPEAKS ABOUT A FUTURE KING-PRIEST. IT IS frank THAT IT DEALS NOT WITH A HISTORICAL KING, BUT WITH THE MESSIAH. 1 The prediction of res cuer non- saviorian priesthood harmonize to the pronounce of Melchizedek indicated that the Aaronic priesthood was transitory (Heb 7 verses 1114), and imperfectthat is, salvation from immoralitywas non possible by dint of the Aaronic priesthood.This meant that God intended to change the hieratical law, making it possible for one who was not a descendant of Aaron to operate a full(prenominal) priest. Once the new High priest later on the parliamentary law of Melchizedek arrived, the typical priesthood would end (verses 1519). Christ became priest, not on the basis of genealogical ties, appendd by a divine declaration. His priesthood is invariable because His life is indestructible. 2 This is called in biblical theology typology. Whether or not typology stub legitimately be embraced in the interpretation of certain messianic prophecies is by far the most contr everywheresial question.One area of OT typology was that of typical individuals who served as proto vitrines twain of other individuals within the OT and of Christ in amplification, the Melchizedek of Genesis 1418-20 served as an individual type of the messiah within the OT, as evinced in psalm 1104 and that the author of the Book of Hebrews utilized the Melchizedekian typology already employ within the OT canon to further his arguments for the supremacy of the priesthood of delivery boy to that of the Levites. 3 Matthew Henry and et al. lineament to Hebrew 7. that Melchizedek met Abraham returning from the rescue of Lot, Melchizedeks name, King of Righteousness, doubtless suitable to his character, marked him as a type of the Messiah and his kingdom. The name of his city signified Peace and as King of Peace he typified Christ, the Prince of Peace, the large(p) Reconciler of God and man. Nothing is recorded as to the beginning or end of his life thus he typically resembled the Son of God, whose earth is from ever live oning to everlasting, who had no one that was before Him, and go forth pee no one come aft(prenominal) Him, in His priesthood.Every part of Scripture honors the broad King of Righteousness and Peace, our glorious High Priest and Savior and the much we examine it, the more we shall be convinced, that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 4 in that respect are strong parallels among Melchizedek and Jesus both are the Sons of God, priest of the Order of Melchizedek, King of Righteous, King of Peace, appointed by God, eternal priesthood, and preexistent. debate of the Problem The problem this paper espouses is embodied in the questions What was so picky ab bug out the order of Melchizedek?Why would God juxtapose the order of Melchizedek to that of Jesus if in that respect where no credence to it? Significance of the cartoon The study is prodigious because it will explore the intertextual study of Melchizedek in relation to Jesus Christ. The study is vital because it will contribute to the knowledge of bringing to focus the immensity of Jesus priesthood as superior and more elevating and able to meet the postulate of Gods people during the closing days of earths history. Purpose of the StudyThe main thrust of this paper is to provide a clearer peck of the superior and excellent perception of Jesus priesthood as efficacious fair to middling for the people of God. In reality, Jesus Christ is the only true sacerdotal intermediator between God and the human race. The priesthoods of Aaron and Melchizedek serve only as role models of Christs effective ministry. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time (1 Tim. 25,6). 5 DelimitationThe paper will be delimited to the few pericopes about Melchizedek in Genesis 14, Psalm 110 and the letter to the Hebrews chapter 7. Methodology This is a soft research that describes Melchizedek and Jesus priesthood from Jewish and Chris tian sources. Chapter 1 is a definition of the introduction that includes the significance of study, purpose and the delimitation of the research. Chapter 2 contains the literature check out that extrapolates sources from Jewish, Christian, and non-Christian literature to expound on Melchizedek and Jesus priesthood as relevant to the aim of salvation.Chapter 3 is the conclusion with the focus on the summary and findings of the research work. Chapter 2 TYPOLOGY OF JESUS AND MELCHIZEDEK WHAT IS TYPOLOGY? Exactly what is a type? Theologically speaking, a type may be defined as a figure or ensample of nearthing future and more or less prophetic, called the Antitype. 6 Muenscher says a type is the preordained articulation relation which certain persons, up to nowts, and institutions of the superannuated will bear to corresponding persons, events, and institutions in the raw(a). 7 Wick Broomall has a concise statement that is helpful A type is a shadow cast on the pages of the Old Testament history by a truth whose full embodiment or antitype is found in the New Testament revelation. 8 We would, in summary, nominate the following definition, which we paraphrase from Terry A type is a real, expansive happening in history which was divinely ordained by the omniscient God to be a prophetic picture of the good things which he purposed to bring to fruition in Christ Jesus.Who is Melchizedek? The identification of Melchizedek has been highly debated in the history of the church. Jewish tradition has identified Melchizedek with Shem, the son of Noah who, by and by the chronology in Genesis, survived the flood and lived at a time when Abraham was alive and was his contemporary for a hundred years. Christian tradition has proposed different interpretations to identify who Melchizedek was. Origen said that Melchizedek was an angel. Others progress to proposed that he was the Holy Spirit in human form.Many Christians, ancient and contemporary, know said that this is a classical example of a Christophany in the Old Testament, that is, Melchizedek was Jesus Christ himself, who appeared to Abraham in human form. The concept of Christophany should be spurned because it contradicts the statement in the book of Hebrews that Jesus was designated a Priest aft(prenominal) the order of Melchizedek. If Melchizedek was Christ thence how could Christ himself become a Priest in the likeness of Melchizedek? 9 Ellen White wrote in the Re billet and Herald that it was Christ that spoke through Melchizedek, the priest of the Most High God.Melchizedek was not Christ, but he was the voice of God in the world, the representative of the Father. And all through the generations of the past, Christ has spoken Christ has led His people, and has been the light of the world. 10 Another legal opinion is that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. The typological interpretation suggests that the priesthood of Melchizedek was a type of Christs priesthood. As Melchizedek wa s a priest of the Most High God, so was Jesus. As Melchizedek was a king, so was Jesus. Both Melchizedek and Jesus were royal priests.In the persons of Melchizedek and Jesus the offices of priest and king were combined. For this paper we are going to focus on the view that Melchizedek was a type of Jesus. After The Order of Melchizedek The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind You are a priest ceaselessly after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110,4). Unlike the ordinary priests, for whom it was possible to be of priestly descent and yet not actually function as priests (cf. Deut 18,6-8 Lev 21,17-23), the priesthood of Jesus priest was sworn unto Him by God Himself to be after the order of Melchizedek.He was not of any priestly descent inasmuch as he was not of the tribe of Levi, nor was he a priest in the sense of mortal who was actually employed as a sanctuary attendant and was carrying out sanctuary duties on a day-to-day basis. However, his priesthood was more permanent and unchanging than that of any other priest, since whether or not he was functioning in the sanctuary and doing the job of priest, he was by definition a mediator between people and deity for the quell of his life. 11 Christ was a priest of God after the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 1104 Hebrews 56,10 620 711,17).The word order (taxis) signifies an arrangement. In this connection, it means of exchangeable arrangement, i. e. , the nature of, or just like Melchizedek. The meaning is this in some sense the kingly-priesthood of Jesus would be alike in nature to that of Melchizedek. pipeline the reference to Psalm 1104 above, and observe that Christ make the application of this Psalm to Himself in Matthew 2243-4512 It was not that Melchizedek was without father, without mother literally, or that he had no genealogical background.No, the truth being conveyed was this. Whereas the Aaronic priesthood resulted from being a part of a family line, i. e. , the descendants of Aaron, Moses brot her, the priesthood of Melchizedek was bestowed directly by God. And it was precisely in this manner that the Lord Jesus was appointed as our High Priest he did not inherit it by means of a physical lineage (cf. Hebrews 714). 13 In the Letter to the Hebrews, the author uses the figure of Melchizedek in his reflection on the salvation-historical significance of Jesus life.Although there are probably captain elements to his use of Melchizedek, much of what he affirms about Melchizedek is parallel or similar to what is found in Jesus. The author uses the view that his readers had about Melchizedek for the purpose of proving the favorable position of Jesus High Priesthood to that of Aaron and his descendents. His goal is to demonstrate that Christs death brings the Levitical sacrificial arrangement to an end. The figure of Melchizedek sees the conjugation of king and high priest into one individual. These cardinal offices were separated in the Mosaic covenant and also later in the Davidic covenant.Moses led the people whereas Aaron his brother founded a high-priestly order later, when God swore to David that he would establish his dynasty forever, the high priesthood belonged to the family of Zadok, who was a priest (from the line of Aaron). Melchizedek, in the authors view, prefigures the unification of two offices in one person, which should come to pass in the last days. To be a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek is to be both king and priest. And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham. 0 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. Abraham, the father of the Levites and the area of Israel, paid tithes to Melchizedek and because of that, through Abraham, Levi also paid tithes to Melchizedek, so to speak. In doing so, not only was Melchizedek greater than Abraham, but greater than Levi and the priesthood that bore his name. If therefore idol were by the Levitical priesthood, fo r under it the people received the law, what further require was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchizedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron?The writer, having established the superiority of the priestly ministry of Melchizedek all over the Levitical priesthood, now shows the superiority of the priestly ministry of Christ Jesus over both. Perfection, as we have seen in this paper, refers to salvation. Perfection is the New Testament resign it is salvation through the sacrifice of Christ, and the completeness of His entire work for the believer. In addition if the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic Law could bring a person into salvation, atonement and access to God, then there was no need for another priest to come after the order of Melchizedek.The fact that there was one who came after the order of Melchizedek proved the failure of the Levitical priesthood and the Mosaic Law to provide a complete and comprehensive salvation that only Chris t, our great High Priest, provides. It means that Christ was not a High Priest, as in Aaronic and the Levitical order (according to the law of Moses). The High Priesthood of Jesus Christ is of a high order Christ was and is a High Priest as Melchizedek and not as Aaron or Levi. Note the following 1. Melchizedeks position as High Priest was not dependent on ancestry any was Christs. (714). 2. Melchizedek was not in a succession of many priests neither is Christ. (73). 3. Melchizedeks priesthood was higher than and separate from the Levitical order so is Christs. (74-7). ? 4. Melchizedek was priest and king so is Christ (See Zech. 69-15). 5. Melchizedek received tribute from Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation this shows the superiority of Melchizedeks priesthood above the Levitical (which came out of the loins of Abraham). See Gen. 1418-20 with Heb. 7414. Chapter 3 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONTHIS CHAPTER DISCUSSES THE SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOM MENDATION FOR FUTURE RESEARCH. compendium The replacing of the old priesthood with the eternal priesthood of Christ also meant a reliever of the Old contract with the New Covenant, which was required. All of this was set up, executed and revealed by God, for the purpose of convincing the Jews their old Levitical priesthood was now history. And it means that we have a High Priest and access to God For such a high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.Who needed not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people for this he did once, when he offered up himself. (Heb. 726-27). Wherefore, he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lived to make intercession for them, (Heb. 725). Conclusion A careful reading of Hebrews 7 provides a lens for understanding the rest of the letter. Christs priesthood, its efficacy and our response, is the main theme of the letter, and this is expounded carefully in chap. 7, via the vehicle of Melchizedek.In the form of true Hebrew poetics, repetitions of references to Melchizedek lead the reader on a hermeneutical journey. However, also in good Hebrew form, what is left unuttered explicitly also colors the reading and understanding and makes the possibilities for interpretation even richer. 15 Recommendations After a careful analysis of the juxtaposition position of the Melchizedeks priesthood and Priesthood of Christ, this paper proposes the following recommendation for further research In examining the priesthood of Christ, does embellish have any antecedents?What has Christ to offer up for the perfection of His Priesthood in heaven? Does Christ Priesthood offer any hope of salvation to the sinner? Bibliography BIRD, CHAD L. 2000. TYPOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION WITHIN THE OLD TESTAMENT MELCHIZEDEKIAN TYPOLOGY. CONCORDIA JOURNAL 26. Booij, Thijs. Psalm 110 rule i n the midst of your foes Vetus testamentum 41, no. 4 October 1991. Broomall, Wick. 1960. bread maker mental lexicon of Theology. Everett F. Harrison, Geoffrey W. Bromiley, and Carl F. H. Henry, eds. Grand Rapids, MI Baker. Bullinger, E. W. 1968. 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