Hebrews 7

Who was Melchizedek?

Theories:
1. Just a righteous/ancient king
2. Shem (a Jewish theory)
3. A 'type' of Christ
4. A 'pre-incarnate' appearence of Christ

Characteristics of Melchizedek in Scripture
1. He was King of Salem (Genesis 14:18)
2. He gave bread and wine to Abraham (Genesis 14:18)
3. He was Priest of God Most High (Genesis 14:18)
4. He blessed Abram (Genesis 14:19)
5. Abram gave him ‘of everything’ (Genesis 14:20)
6. He is a Priest forever (Psalm 110:4)
7. His name means King of Righteousness (Hebrews 7:2)
8. King of Salem means King of Peace (Hebrews 7:2)
9. He was without genealogy (Hebrews 7:3)
10. He was without beginning or end (Hebrews 7:3)
11. He is greater than Abraham (Hebrews 7:7)
12. He is greater than a Levitical Priest (Hebrews 7:9)
13. He has an indestructibe life (Hebrews 7:16-17)

Characteristics of Jesus that correspond
1. He is the King of Jerusalem (Matthew 27:11)
2. He gave bread and wine to Abraham’s children (Matthew 26:26-28)
3. He is the High Priest of God (Hebrews 5:10)
4. He blesses Abraham’s descendants (Galatians 3:29)
5. Abraham’s descendants give Him everything (Romans 12:1-2)
6. He is a Priest forever, has an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:24)
7. He is the King of Righteousness (Matthew 3:15)
8. He is the King of Peace (Acts 10:36)
9. He was born of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:35)
10. He is without beginning or end (Revelation 21:6)
11. He is greater than Abraham (John 8:52-58)
12. He is greater than a Levitical Priest (Hebrew 7:22)
13. He has an indestructible life (Hebrews 7:24)

Conclusion
In the very least, then, Melchizedek was a 'type' of Christ. He foreshadowed the kind of priest that Christ is. The very fact that Jesus is said to be 'like' Melchizedek implies (to some) that this is a type/anti-type scenario and not a theophany. But, I do not feel theory #3 should be dismissed in a cavalier manner b/c:

1. It could mean that Melchizedek was a theophany 'like' Jesus was a theophany of God
2. The whole point of Hebrews is to show the greatness of Christ. Why talk about Melchizedek's greatness if he wasn't Christ?
3. Melchizedek is said to be a priest forever, which includes 'now'
4. The point of chapter 7 is to contrast the Melchizedek priesthood with the Levitical. The former is 'forever' and the latter is 'transferable'.

Thus, from this chapter we see these theological concusion:
1. Jesus is better than Abraham (7:7)
2. Jesus is the guarantee of a better covenant (7:22)
3. Better than the Levitical Priesthood, otherwise why would another 'Melchizedek' priest be necessary (7:11, 26-28)
4. Since the Levitical Priesthood is no longer necessary, and another 'Melchizedek' has come, there must also be a 'change' of law. The whole system transitions from Old Covenant to New Covenant (7:12)