The Mystery of Melchizedek in Early Christianity in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls

Preview this chapter:

The Mystery of Melchizedek in Early Christianity in Light of the Dead Sea Scrolls, Page 1 of 1

< Previous page | Next page > /docserver/preview/fulltext/10.1484/M.STR-EB.5.121558/M.STR-EB.5.122742-1.gif

The figure of Melchizedek, which appears expressly mentioned in the Scriptures only twice in the Hebrew Bible (Gen 14, 18-20, Ps 110, 4), and once in the New Testament (Heb 7), became an important topic in patristic literature, as well as in the polemic of Christianity against various heresies and Judaism, becoming a popular theme in Byzantine iconography. The Epistle to the Hebrews was a turning point in the way of perceiving this character in antiquity, when the former kingpriest of Salem of earthly character in ancient Jewish sources (Gen 14, Genesis Apocryphon, Pseudo-Eupolemus, Philo of Alexandria, and Flavius Josephus), was characterized in the New Testament as an eternal being (7, 3). From that moment on, the figure of Melchizedek played a significant role in the heterodox speculations of some Christian sects (for example, the heresy of the “Melchizedekites”), considering it a heavenly “great power” superior to Christ (Theodotus the banker), an “angel” (Origins), or even identifying it with the “Holy Spirit” (Hieracas the Egyptian). Likewise, Melchizedek was interpreted as a soteriological figure in Gnostic literature, having a celestial-angelic, priestly and warrior character. How can one explain this radical transformation in the way of apprehending the figure of Melchizedek? The hypothesis of this work is that the sectarianqumranite exegetical tradition present in 11Q Melquisedec (11Q 13) would be the key to understanding the mutation suffered by the pre-Christian Melchizedek at the end of the Greco-Roman period, which would have served as background, or even as inspiration, for the later development of this figure in ancient Christianity.