Hebrews 7 Footnotes

7:3 This passage doesn’t contradict Gn 3:20, which names Eve as “the mother of all the living.” Rather, in Heb 7:1-3 the author explains Gn 14:17-20 to demonstrate typological links between Melchizedek and the Son of God. Gn 14 says nothing about Melchizedek’s lineage, birth, and death; thus, his priesthood lacks qualifications and limitations like those of the Levitical priesthood (which required demonstration of genealogy). Therefore the phrases “without father, mother, or genealogy” and “having neither beginning of days nor end of life” do not contradict Gn 3:20. The name Melchizedek means “king of righteousness” (from the Hb melek and sedeq), and the city over which he ruled is called Salem, meaning “peace”; thus, he is also “king of peace.” The writer of Hebrews developed a contrast between Melchizedek’s priesthood and the Levitical one.

7:11 Some see an inconsistency in this verse because they say that the law was given to the Israelites before the Levitical priesthood. However, the preposition epi can have several meanings other than just “through.” For example, the word can also mean “concerning” or “on the basis of.” In other words, God’s people in the OT had received directives related to the Levitical priests’ ministry through the law.

7:24 Mormonism incorrectly claims Melchizedek’s priesthood for its faith. Several high offices of the Mormon church supposedly grow out of the Melchizedekan order. The Mormons’ doctrine, however, is false because Hebrews states that Jesus is the only high priest after the order of Melchizedek (3:1; 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:11,15,17,21,24,26; 8:1; 9:11).