The Order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4 and Heb 7:3) -- By: Maarten J. Paul

Journal: Westminster Theological Journal
Volume: WTJ 49:1 (Spring 1987)
Article: The Order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4 and Heb 7:3)
Author: Maarten J. Paul


The Order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4 and Heb 7:3)

M. J. Paul

Psalm 110 is a famous psalm. It is appreciated to such a degree by the NT authors, that it is the one quoted most of all. Especially in the Epistle to the Hebrews it is used to work out the concept that Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Moreover, Jesus himself asks the Pharisees a question, citing v 1: “If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son?” (Matt 22:41–43). So it is an important psalm, having many consequences for Christology.

However famous it may be, it is a disputed psalm. Exegetically this is one of the most difficult.1 In this article I want to concentrate on v 4 and deal with the significance of the order of Melchizedek. For that purpose it is necessary to investigate first the question of authorship and date. This problem is related to the matter to which degree the king could exercise priestly functions; therefore, we will draw some other biblical chapters in our inquiry, as e.g. Zechariah 6. NT data shall receive attention too.

I. Authorship and Date

Many commentaries class this psalm as a Royal Psalm which was later understood to have Messianic implications. Its original Sitz im Leben may have been the enthronement of the king, or it may have been a part of the annual ritual of the great Autumnal Festival. H. H. Rowley suggests that the psalm was composed for a specific occasion, when David had been recognized as master of Jerusalem, and that it was written for the purpose of celebrating David’s enthronement (vv 1–3 and 5–7) and of confirming Zadok’s priesthood (v 4).2 But the majority of the exegetes regard the speaker in the

psalm as a cultic prophet, or an unknown priest addressing the king. Only a small minority believes David to be the author. Some of them think David is addressing his son Solomon,3 while others think the psalm is directly Messianic.4

There is also a wide range of diversity in the assumed dates of composition. The earliest possible date mentioned is the tenth century, but the Lime of the Maccabees is suggested as well. The main argument for d...

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