Melchizedek is without a doubt, one of the most mysterious figures in the Bible. He is mentioned in both the Old Testament and New Testament.
The Bible scriptures alone that mention Melchizedek can often challenge mainstream ideas of traditional Christian thought. According to the Bible he was an immortal king and priest “without beginning of days…” Where could he have come from?
The Bible talks about Melchizedek in three different books; Genesis, Psalms & Hebrews. Here is the most insightful passage:
Hebrews Chapter 6
20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews Chapter 7
1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him,
2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.
4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder!
An obscure dead sea scroll refers to Melchizedek as, “Elohim”, which is the same name the Hebrews use for God.
The image above is by Dieric Bouts the Elder and depicts the meeting between Abraham & Melchizedek, mentioned in Genesis and Hebrews.
