Chapter 7

Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like Christ’s

1 For this aMelchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the bMost High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,

2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

3 Without father, without mother, awithout genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like bthe Son of God, he remains a priest perpetually.

4 Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the apatriarch, bgave a tenth of the choicest spoils.

5 And those indeed of athe sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment 1in the Law to collect 2a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these 3are descended from Abraham.

6 But the one awhose genealogy is not traced from them bcollected 1a tenth from Abraham and 2bblessed the one who chad the promises.

7 But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.

8 In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, aof whom it is witnessed that he lives on.

9 And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes,

10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

11 aNow if perfection was through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it bthe people received the Law), what further need was there for another priest to arise caccording to the order of Melchizedek, and not be designated according to the order of Aaron?

12 For when the priesthood is changed, of necessity there takes place a change of law also.

13 For athe one concerning whom bthese things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no one has officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord 1was adescended from Judah, a tribe with reference to which Moses spoke nothing concerning priests.

15 And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek,

16 who has become such not on the basis of a law of 1aphysical requirement, but according to the power of ban indestructible life.

17 For it is attested of Him,

“aYou are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment abecause of its weakness and uselessness

19 (for athe Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better bhope, through which we cdraw near to God.

20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,

“aThe Lord has sworn

And bwill not change His mind,

‘You are a priest cforever’ ”);

22 so much the more also Jesus has become the aguarantee of ba better covenant.

23 1The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues aforever, holds His priesthood permanently.

25 Therefore He is able also to asave 1forever those who bdraw near to God through Him, since He always lives to cmake intercession for them.

26 For it was fitting for us to have such a ahigh priest, bholy, cinnocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and dexalted above the heavens;

27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to aoffer up sacrifices, bfirst for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did conce for all when He doffered up Himself.

28 For the Law appoints men as high priests awho are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints ba Son, cmade perfect forever.