Christ’s priesthood is part of the Melchizedekian order.
The phrase made like the Son of God in Hebrews 7:3 implies that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. To be clear, Melchizedek is not a theophany or Old Testament appearance of Christ. The idea that Melchizedek is a theophany of Christ comes from a Second Century AD Gnostic text.
There are three significant reasons why Melchizedek is not a theophany. First, the participle made like (aphomoióō) in Hebrews 7:3, is used to describe Melchizedek’s likeness to Christ. The use of the participle indicates that Melchizedek was comparable to Christ only in the likeness or type. If Melchizedek were a theophany, an adjective would have been used to describe that Melchizedek was Christ.
Second, one of the prerequisites for any priesthood is that the priest had to be human (cf. Hebrews 5:1). Christ did not take on humanity until the Incarnation. Before the Incarnation, Christ appeared in the form of a man, but not an actual man.
Third, theophanies were temporary and held no office. Melchizedek held the office of priest perpetually. Additionally, he held the office of a king, which required a permanent residency in Salem.
Therefore, Melchizedek is not Christ. He was a Canaanite, priest and king of the Most High God.
- The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. - Psalm 110:4
- being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. - Hebrews 5:10
The phrase made like the Son of God in Hebrews 7:3 implies that Melchizedek was a type of Christ. To be clear, Melchizedek is not a theophany or Old Testament appearance of Christ. The idea that Melchizedek is a theophany of Christ comes from a Second Century AD Gnostic text.
There are three significant reasons why Melchizedek is not a theophany. First, the participle made like (aphomoióō) in Hebrews 7:3, is used to describe Melchizedek’s likeness to Christ. The use of the participle indicates that Melchizedek was comparable to Christ only in the likeness or type. If Melchizedek were a theophany, an adjective would have been used to describe that Melchizedek was Christ.
Second, one of the prerequisites for any priesthood is that the priest had to be human (cf. Hebrews 5:1). Christ did not take on humanity until the Incarnation. Before the Incarnation, Christ appeared in the form of a man, but not an actual man.
Third, theophanies were temporary and held no office. Melchizedek held the office of priest perpetually. Additionally, he held the office of a king, which required a permanent residency in Salem.
Therefore, Melchizedek is not Christ. He was a Canaanite, priest and king of the Most High God.
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