So let's talk about today's readings 1/21/09

[codebilly]

That IS interesting. And how would you characterize the writing
style? How is it different?

Well

*“The are four very different styles of writing in the Pentateuch. The Yawhist which receives his name because he refers to God by his Hebrew name Yahweh. The Elohist which was probably written in the 9th century B.C. approximately 50 to 100 years after the Yawhist. The Elohist gets his name because he referred to God by the Hebrew name of Elohim. The Deuteronomist writing emphasized the need for reform in Social and Religious laws and in Justice. Finally, the Priestly author focused on rules about religious ritual, covenants, and genealogy.” * – see carr.org/~meripper/bible/old-test.htm

[warning - I’m not a biblical scholar ]

If I am not mistaken, the Melchizedek story in Genesis is written in a style differing from the 4 styles mentioned above.

Also, the name for God in Gen 14:19-20 is El Elyon is “God Most High” (king of kings) and “I think” this use of God’s name is not common throughout the OT, but used somewhat in Psalms.

Based on the usage of this Name, I think its easier to understand our tradition of worship of “Christ the King” and “High Priest”., i.e., the King of Kings, with no past as priest is offering bread and wine to El Elyon, the Lord most high.

So God in His appearance as High Priest, with no beginning is a servitor Lord of El Elyon, and intercessory Lord between the Abraham.

 

[Nita]

Well, I don’t see how a true human person could have no
parents, ancestry, beginning, or end. Scripture does not
say these kinds of things about true human persons like
Abraham, Sarah, and Lot. I realize that popular belief is
that these facts were simply unknown, but I do believe
that they had the power of language to say they were
unknown. Are you then of the opinion that Melchizedek
had parents, ancestry, a beginning and an end?

Yes, the interpretation I accept is that he had parents, ancestry, was born of a human mother, died a physical death.

In the Genesis passage (Gen 14:18-20) where Melchizedek meets Abraham, Melchizedek is identified as “king of Salem”. I would find it unusual for a spiritual being to be identified as the king of an eartly city (Salem held by many to be an older name for the city of Jerusalem. See newadvent.org/cathen/10156b.htm)). Melchizedek’s geneology is not given - but, neither is the geneology of all the other kings mentioned in the beginning of Chapter 14.

Heb. 7:3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever. His continuing to be a “priest forever” I would compare to the priesthood of those who receive the Sacrament of Ordination. The Sacrament imprints a permanent character on the soul of the newly ordained priest. Even in heaven we will in some way be able to recognize that they were ordained as priests.

 

[cheeto1]

Yes, the interpretation I accept is that he had parents, ancestry, was born of a human mother, died a physical death.
%between%

Your link is interesting. It even introduces yet another theory,
that it is plausible that he was a ficticious character. What
about the idea that Salem is a ficticious place, and he was
simply king of peace? I’m just going to roll everything you said
around in my mind for a while… thanks