The Melchisedec-priesthood of Christ. — Christ can be a priest without Aaronic descent, and his priesthood is of a higher and older type than the Levitical.
1. For this Melchisedec, etc. See Gen. xiv. 18-20; Pawiexs
2. First being by interpretation King of righteousness (mpdrov pev Epunvevdmevos Baciredrs Sixaroctvns). The first
Cx. VIL] THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 455
designation is the literal interpretation of the Hebrew name. Being interpreted belongs only to this designation. So Joseph. Ant. 1,10, 2: onpaiver S€ todro Bactreds Sixatos “and this (the name Melchisedec) signifies righteous king.”
And after that also (érera 6€ kal). Then follows a des- ignation derived from his character, king of peace. Supply being; not being interpreted.
Salem. Commonly regarded as the site of Jerusalem. It has also been supposed to represent Yare/u Salim, mentioned in J. ili. 23. Jerome says that the place retained that name in his day, and that the ruins of Melchisedec’s palace were shown there.* The ancient name of Jerusalem was Jebus. Others, again, suppose that Salem is not the name of a place, but is merely the appellation of Melchisedec. The passage in Genesis, however, points to a place, and the writer might naturally have desired to indicate the typical meaning of the city over which Melchisedec reigned.
38. Without father, without mother, without descent (amratwp, auntwp, ayeveaddyntos). The three adjectives N. T.°, °LXX. The meaning is that there is no record con- cerning his parentage. This is significant as indicating a different type of priesthood from the Levitical, in which gen- ealogy was of prime importance. No man might exercise priestly functions who was not of the lineage of Aaron.
Having neither beginning of days nor end of life. That is to say, history is silent concerning his birth and death.
But made like unto the Son of God (admpotmpévos dé To vie Tov Oeod). The verb N. T.°. Made like or likened, not like. ‘The resemblance lies in the Biblical representa- tion, and not primarily in Melchisedec himself” (Westcott).
* Ep. ad Evangelium, § 7. Stanley thinks that the meeting of Abraham and Melchisedec was at Gerizim. Ewald at a point north of Jerusalem.
456 WORD STUDIES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. [Cu. VIL
Son of God, not Son of man, for the likeness to Jesus as Son of man would not hold; Jesus, as man, having had both birth and death. The words likened unto the Son of God stand independently. Not to be connected with the following sen- tence, so as to read abideth a priest continually like the Son of God; for, as a priest, Melchisedec, chronologically, was prior to Christ; and, therefore, it is not likeness with respect to priesthood that is asserted. The likeness is in respect to the things just predicated of Melchisedec. Christ as Son of God was without father, mother, beginning or end of days; and, in these points, Melchisedec is likened in Scripture to him.
Abideth a priest continually (ever iepeds eis 70 Sunvenés). Amvexns from Ssapépev to bear through; borne on through ages, continuous. Only in Hebrews. There is no historical account of the termination of Melchisedec’s priesthood. The tenure of his office is uninterrupted. The emphasis is on the eternal duration of the ideal priesthood, and the writer explains the Psalm as asserting eternal duration as the mark of the Melchisedec order. Accordingly, he presents the fol- lowing characteristics of the ideal priesthood: royal, right- cous, peace-promoting, personal and not inherited, eternal. Comips Ieaix)) 6,°Ts fon. 4, 103 commit. LT” hiv. 16st ot course, evident to the most superficial reader that such ex- position of O. T. scripture is entirely artificial, and that it amounts to nothing as proof of the writer’s position. Mel- chisedec is not shown to be an eternal high priest because his death-record is lost ; nor to be properly likened unto the Son of God because there is no notice of his birth and parentage.