User:MichaelAstleyUK

Who was Mechizedek and what did Rubens believe?

Throughout the ages, scholars have tried to figure out who this mysterious person Melchizedek was (is). Some believe that he was (is) the pre-incarnate Christ, or even the son of God.

It is far beyond the scope of this paper to solve this mystery. However, it would be much more interesting to know if Rubens thought that Melchizedek was the son of God. If that were the case then his painting of Abram & Melchizedek would contain an extra dimension to its message. It would mean that we see God's Old Testament's Son (Melchizedek) giving the sacraments (the body & blood) of His New Testament's Son to the Arch Patriarch (Abram) of the Jews, the Muslims, the Catholics and the Protestants. What a commercial. Who wouldn't want to be part of that?

From early times until today: The identity of Melchizedek has been the subject of much debate over the centuries. Some have claimed he was a theophany, others a literal human being, an angel, the pre-incarnate Christ, the son of God, Shem, and the list of speculation goes on. In rabbinical literature, Melchizedec was said to be from the lineage of Shem. The same literature also says Melchizedek's priesthood was taken from him because he blessed Abram before he blessed God.

Many early Christians also believed that Melchizedek was a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. “Mark the Hermit” of the fifth century, “Theodotus the Banker,” and his sect known as the “Melchizedekians” or “Athingani” (whose descendants are the modern day Roma Gypsies) existed in the early centuries. These Melchizedekites regarded Melchizedek as a great heavenly power and as a son of God, superior to Jesus.

Traditional Christian denominations, following Luther, teach that Melchizedek was a historical figure and ananti-type of Christ. However, some Christians have taught that Melchizedek was an appearance of the pre-incarnate Christ. Some say that Melchizedek is literally like the Son of God (or even is the Son of God) in that he has no father or mother.

The Vatican website has 42 sermons, where Melchizedek is mentioned. In one he is called a "pagan" and in another "divine". Even Pope John Paul II struggled with the identity of Melchizedek. He calls him "a mysterious figure" in one of his papal papers. And he also states: "Christ's messianic task is symbolized by the figure of Melchizedek. An evident witness of this truth is found in the Eucharistic sacrifice which by Christ's institution the Church offers every day under the species of bread and wine, after the order of Melchizedek."

What does today's Bible say about Melchizedek?

In Genesis. After rescuing his nephew Lot from military capture, Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham, encountered Melchizedek. "Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: 'Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High who has delivered your enemies into your hand.' And he [Abram] gave him a tithe of all" (Genesis 14:18-20).

In Psalms of David Speaking prophetically of the Messiah, David stated: "The Eternal hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek." This verse is quoted again in Hebrews 5:6 Definition of "order": Greek "aphomoioo" (a) A facsimile (b) An exact copy or exact reproduction (c) A duplicate.

In the letter to the Hebrews There are three chapters (5, 6 and 7) where the author talks about Jesus and Mechizedek. In Hebrew 5:6: "You [Jesus] are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek." In Hebrews 5:9, 10 the writer points out that Jesus has become "the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek." Then in Hebrews 7:1, 2, the author goes on "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, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." Verse 3 describes Melchizedek as being "without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, [and one who] remains a priest forever."