PerryDox – BeJustAChristian

Biblical truth standing on its spiritual head to get our eternal attention.

Hebrews 7:3 – made like the Son of God

| October 18, 2009

In favor of Melchizedek not being a preincarnate Christ, according to some, is the statement, made like the Son of God.  The word made like/aphomoiomenos, according to TDNT says “this verb [the root aphomoióõ] means ‘to copy,’ rarely ‘to compare,’ and in the passive ‘to be or become like’ or ‘make oneself out to be […]

Hebrews 7:3 – having neither beginning of days nor end of life

| October 18, 2009

While Pickup (Marty Pickup, “According to the Order of Melchizedek,” A Tribute to Melvin D. Curry, Jr) does not believe in the supernatural identity of Melchizedek, he does not agree with the Rabbinic principle regarding the silence of the Scripture, that is, “what is literarily true of Melchizedek is literally true of Christ.  If this […]

Hebrews 7:3 – Without Genealogy

| October 18, 2009

7:3 – “without genealogy” (agenealogetos – only found here in the NT) “That is a word that, so far as we know, no Greek writer ever used before.” (Barclay) Two possible meanings based upon the word itself: No recorded genealogy No actual genealogy Now let’s look at some of the Greek words used in this […]

Hebrews 7:3 – Without Father Without Mother

| October 18, 2009

7:3 – “without father” (apatoor), “without mother” (ametoor) Used by the Greeks to describe an orphan, or unknown patronage, and to describe divine beings. The Jews referred to proselytes as having no father since they had no legitimate Jewish ancestry. Consider a parallel Statement: “Behold, as for me, not my father, and not my mother […]

Hebrews 7 – Who Was Melchizedek?

| October 18, 2009

            Let’s divide this section into two parts: 1) What We Know; 2) What Other Speculate Melchizedek – What We Know Originally mentioned in Genesis 14:18-20 as a priest of El Elyon (God Most High). Mentioned in only three books (Gen. 14:18-20 [History & Typology]; Ps. 110:4 [Prophecy]; Heb. 5:6-11; 6:20-7:28 [Fulfillment])

Hebrews 7 – Why Did Melchizedek Exist?

| October 18, 2009

Melchizedek existed as a priest and king, and is recorded as existing in Genesis for one purpose only – to foreshadow the Christ.  That is why the Genesis writer speaks of him, which is a tacit argument for the inspiration of Genesis.  Contextually speaking, there is no connection between Melchizedek and the surrounding text in […]

Hebrews 7 – Text and Notes

| October 18, 2009

 It is important and comforting to remember that studying Melchizedek is not considered the elementary principles or teachings of the word of God. Why are we told the story of Melchizedek in Genesis 14? Because Jesus was coming. What is the significance of Melchizedek in the O.T.? His name means King of Righteousness and Peace […]

Hebrews 6:8 – close to being cursed

| October 15, 2009

“It is acknowledged, almost on all hands, that this epistle was written before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. This verse is in my opinion a proof of it, and here I suppose the apostle refers to that approaching destruction; and perhaps he has this all along in view, but speaks of it covertly, […]

Hebrews 6:8 – Burning the land

| October 15, 2009

“Referring to the land. The allusion here is to the common practice among the Oriental and Roman agriculturists of burning bad and barren lands. An illustration of this is afforded by Pliny. “There are some who burn the stubble on the field, chiefly upon the authority of Virgil; the principal reason for which is, that […]

Hebrews 6:6 – Impossible

| October 15, 2009

It is a wise hermeneutical practice when trying to understand difficult passages to: Focus first on the context. Interpret difficult passages by easier passages. Interpret in light of examples. For example, when looking at this passage about it being impossible to restore, we only need to look at overall context of chapters 5-6 in Hebrews, […]