Is there anyone who doesn’t have a beginning of days or end of life (apart from the Holy Trinity)?
Hebrews 7:8 indicates that Melchizedek lives. Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives (Hebrews 7:8 NKJV) but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises (Hebrews 7:6 NKJV)
Hebrews 7:3
ESV - 3 He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
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Asked May 11 2020
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Lawrie Yinka
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
As I interpret relevant passages, Melchizedek was both a king (of Salem) and a distinguished priest of God who (as the verse cited in the question notes) may have been a prophetic "type" of Christ in both that dual role, and also in His role as the ultimate Great High Priest, who fills that role not only for Jews but for Gentiles as well (as shown by the fact that Melchizedek held his office prior to the establishment of the Levitic priesthood contained in the Law given to Moses by God). However, he was not a theophany or Christophany of Christ Himself, but (as noted in Hebrews 7:3) "resembled" Jesus in His role as the eternal son of God. In addition, Abraham gives no indication in the text that he has any knowledge of having been in God's presence (as individuals who had experienced genuine theophanies customarily did) after dealing with Melchizedek. Finally, the role of priests (such as Melchizedek) was not to represent God, but to represent humans in dealing with God. This would also gravitate in favor of Melchizedek being a human, rather than having any supernatural aspects associated with himself. Only God is eternal (with neither beginning nor end). In my opinion, the references to Melchizedek not having father, mother, or genealogy, or a beginning or end of days, were not indicative of any type of divinity on Melchizedek's part, but pertained to the fact that Melchizedek was ordained as a priest by God Himself, rather than holding his office as a result of his bloodline (as the descendants of Levi did), and not having the limitations on his priesthood with regard to age and length of service that were later imposed on the Levitic priesthood (as in Numbers 8:24-25).
Shirley H
Supporter
I think that Hebrews 7:3 is a statement about Melchizedek's likeness to Jesus. Notice the phrase,"made like unto the Son of God." Hebrew. 7:8, refers to Christ, the King Priest forever of which Melchizedek is a shadow. See Hebrews 5:6, and Revelation 1:17 & 18, "Fear not I Am the first and the last. I Am He that liveth, was dead,and behold I am alive forever more AMEN... Hebrews 7:6, compares to Genesis 14:20. I believe each person has a beginning, and an end, a birth and a death. Exceptions are only God the Father, Jesus our Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit. These are a few verses that refer to birth: Job 5:7, Psalms 90:10 & 12; Psalm 102:3, 144:4. Ecclesiastes 3:2 refers to a time to be born and a time to die. Some other references to a time to die are Ecclesiastes 2:12-16, Isaiah 22:13, Psalm 49:10, Jeremiah 31:30, Ezekiel 18:2-4, John 8:24, Hebrews 9:27, 1 Corinthians 15:22, and Revelation 14:13. Praise God for the gift of life, a Savior, and the hope to live with Him eternally!
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