Genesis Vol 3.pdf - College Press

ABRAHAM AND LOT 14: 17-24
the entire period of his mediatorial reign. And so it was
with Melchisedec. So far as the record goes, his priesthood,
as well as that of Christ, was unbroken, uninterrupted by
any changes of succession. All that is here meant by his
being made like unto the Son of God and abiding a priest
perpetually is simply this: that like Jesus he completely
fills up the entire era of his royal priesthood in his own
proper person. This period, however short, is intended to
serve as a typical representation of the era of Christ’s
priesthood, and Melchisedec is thus made a more perfect
type of Christ than was Aaron or any of his successors. . . .
And all that is therefore implied in the words of the text
is simply this: that as the shadow, however small it may
be, corresponds with the substance which forms it, so also
did the priesthood of ,Melchisedec correspond with that of
Christ. Each of them was unbroken, uninterrupted, and
relatively perfect in itself. Great care is therefore neces-
sary in dealing with these relative terms and expressions,
lest peradventure we give them an extension which is
wholly beyond what was intended by the Holy Spirit.”
True it is that “this Canaanite crosses for a moment
the path of Abram, and is unhesitatingly recognized as a
person of higher spiritual rank than the friend of God.
Disappearing as suddenly as he came in, he is lost to the
sacred writing for a thousand years; and then a few em-
phatic words for another moment bring him into sight as
a type of the coming Lord of David. Once more, after
another thousand years, the Hebrew Christians are taught
to see in him a proof that it was the consistent purpose of
God to abolish the Levitical priesthood. His person, his
office, his relation to Christ, and the seat of his sovereignty,
have given rise to innumerable discussions, which even now
can scarcely be considered as settled” (OTH, 99). But
can we really be satisfied with the view that all that is
said of Melchizedek as a type of Christ is fulfilled simply
“in historical account,” that is, without reference to the
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