Ash at 08:20, 21 September 2004

2004-09-21T08:20:35Z

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Ash at 01:44, 21 September 2004

2004-09-21T01:44:40Z

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'''Melchizedek''' is a character in the [[Bible]] who appeared in [[Book of Genesis|Genesis]] to the patriarch [[Abraham]]. He is called "king of Salem (believed to be ancient [[Jerusalem]])" and "[[priest]] of the most high [[God]]" in Genesis 14:18.

==Old Testament==
Reference to Melchizedek is brief in the [[Old Testament]]. Melchizedek first appears bringing bread and wine to Abraham (then Abram) after his victory (described in Genesis 14) over the four kings who had besieged Sodom and Gomorrah and had taken his nephew Lot prisoner. In return, Abraham gives Melchizedek a tithe of the bounty that he took in battle:

:''Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, and he blessed Abram, saying, "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand." Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. '' — Genesis 14:18-20 (NIV).

Psalm 110:4 names Melchizedek as representative of the priestly line through which a future king of Israel's [[King David|Davidic]] line was ordained. The future king -- in [[Christianity|Christian]] belief, [[Jesus Christ]] -- is referred to as a "priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek".

:''The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind. You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'' — Psalms 110:4 (NIV).

Some [[rabbi|rabbinic]] scholars identify Melchizedek with Noah's son Shem. The account of Melchizedek given in the Dead Sea Scrolls has also divided scholars into two camps, one that touts his existence as a mortal man and another that identifies him with the [[archangel Michael]].

==New Testament==
Hebrews 7:3 in the New Testament refers to Melchizedek as a king "without father or mother or genealogy", a reference which some Christians take as referring to Melchizedek's true nature as an [[angel]] or even as Jesus himself, appearing thousands of years before his earthly [[incarnation]].

==Biblical references to Melchizedek==
Genesis 14:18-20; Psalms 110:4; Hebrews 5:6-10; Hebrews 6:20; Hebrews 7:1-17

==References==
A large portion of this article was taken from: Wikipedia. (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melchizedek Melchizedek].'' Retrieved Sapt. 20, 2004.

[[Category:The Gnostic Saints]]

Melchizedek - Revision history

Ash at 08:20, 21 September 2004

Ash at 01:44, 21 September 2004