Who was Melchizedek?

[tonychanyt]

Genesis 14:

18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High

Melchizedek was both king and priest. He was uniquely qualified to take on both offices.

David prophesied in Psalms 110:

4 The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

It was confirmed in Hebrews 7:

2b First, the name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.” 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, resembling the Son of God, he remains a priest forever.

Here is the mystery: He is like the Son of God forever.

Who was Melchizedek?

He was the mysterious Son of God figure in Genesis, representing the prototype of king-priest forever.

Was Melchizedek a manifestation of the preincarnate Christ?

I think so.

17 For it is witnessed of him,
“You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Christ fits this description nicely.

20 And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, 21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

This strongly suggests that Melchizedek was the preincarnate Jesus. Melchizedek foreshadowed the eternal priest and was the eternal priest. This is a divine personal mystery of the Son of God.