Melchizedek in the Letter to the Hebrews

Rob Bradshaw, in his blog BiblicalStudies has posted an article by Alan R. Millard titled “The Melchizedek Citations in the Letter to the Hebrews,” published in the Christian Brethren Research Fellowship Journal 17 (Jan. 1968): 14-15. The article is in PDF format and available for download online.

Here is Millard’s conclusion:

The figure of Melchizedek in Genesis 1, 4 and in Psalm 110 is used in the Epistle to the Hebrews as a prototype and precedent for the priestly office of Jesus, which the writer wishes to establish as legitimate.

The article is short but very helpful in helping to understand the reference to Melchizedek in the letter to the Hebrews.

Claude Mariottini
Professor of Old Testament
Northern Baptist Seminary

Tags: Genesis 14, Melchizedek, Psalm 110