Melchizedek and Abraham (Genesis 14:17–24)
1 CPDV For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham, as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him. BSB BSB: This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
2 CPDV And Abraham divided to him a tenth part of everything. And in translation his name is first, indeed, king of justice, and next also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. BSB BSB: and Abraham apportioned to him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness.” Then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”
3 CPDV Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, he is thereby likened to the Son of God, who remains a priest continuously. BSB BSB: Without father or mother or genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God, he remains a priest for all time.
4 CPDV Next, consider how great this man is, since the Patriarch Abraham even gave tithes to him from the principal things. BSB BSB: Consider how great Melchizedek was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder.
5 CPDV And indeed, those who are from the sons of Levi, having received the priesthood, hold a commandment to take tithes from the people in accord with the law, that is, from their brothers, even though they also went forth from the loins of Abraham. BSB BSB: Now the law commands the sons of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people—that is, from their brothers—though they too are descended from Abraham.
6 CPDV But this man, whose lineage is not enumerated with them, received tithes from Abraham, and he blessed even the one who held the promises. BSB BSB: But Melchizedek, who did not trace his descent from Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises.
7 CPDV Yet this is without any contradiction, for what is less should be blessed by what is better. BSB BSB: And indisputably, the lesser is blessed by the greater.
8 CPDV And certainly, here, men who receive tithes still die; but there, he bears witness that he lives. BSB BSB: In the case of the Levites, mortal men collect the tenth; but in the case of Melchizedek, it is affirmed that he lives on.
9 CPDV And so it may be said that even Levi, who received tithes, was himself a tithe through Abraham. BSB BSB: And so to speak, Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham.
10 CPDV For he was still in the loins of his father, when Melchizedek met him. BSB BSB: For when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the loin of his ancestor.
A Superior Priesthood 11 CPDV Therefore, if consummation had occurred through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), then what further need would there be for another Priest to rise up according to the order of Melchizedek, one who was not called according to the order of Aaron? BSB BSB: Now if perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on this basis the people received the law), why was there still need for another priest to appear—one in the order of Melchizedek and not in the order of Aaron?
12 CPDV For since the priesthood has been transferred, it is necessary that the law also be transferred. BSB BSB: For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed as well.
13 CPDV For he about whom these things have been spoken is from another tribe, in which no one attends before the altar. BSB BSB: He of whom these things are said belonged to a different tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar.
15 CPDV And yet it is far more evident that, according to the likeness of Melchizedek, there rises up another priest, BSB BSB: And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears,
16 CPDV who was made, not according to the law of a carnal commandment, but according to the virtue of an indissoluble life. BSB BSB: one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life.
17 CPDV For he testifies: “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.” BSB BSB: For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
18 CPDV Certainly, there is a setting aside of the former commandment, because of its weakness and lack of usefulness. BSB BSB: So the former commandment is set aside because it was weak and useless
19 CPDV For the law led no one to perfection, yet truly it introduced a better hope, through which we draw near to God. BSB BSB: (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.
20 CPDV Moreover, it is not without an oath. For certainly, the others were made priests without an oath. BSB BSB: And none of this happened without an oath. For others became priests without an oath,
21 CPDV But this man was made a priest with an oath, by the One who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and he will not repent. You are a priest forever.” BSB BSB: but Jesus became a priest with an oath by the One who said to Him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: ‘You are a priest forever.’”
22 CPDV By so much, Jesus has been made the sponsor of a better testament. BSB BSB: Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 CPDV And certainly, so many of the others became priests because, due to death, they were prohibited from continuing. BSB BSB: Now there have been many other priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office.
24 CPDV But this man, because he continues forever, has an everlasting priesthood. BSB BSB: But because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood.
25 CPDV And for this reason, he is able, continuously, to save those who approach God through him, since he is ever alive to make intercession on our behalf. BSB BSB: Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them.
26 CPDV For it was fitting that we should have such a High Priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted higher than the heavens. BSB BSB: Such a high priest truly befits us—One who is holy, innocent, undefiled, set apart from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.
27 CPDV And he has no need, daily, in the manner of other priests, to offer sacrifices, first for his own sins, and then for those of the people. For he has done this once, by offering himself. BSB BSB: Unlike the other high priests, He does not need to offer daily sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people; He sacrificed for sin once for all when He offered up Himself.
28 CPDV For the law appoints men as priests, though they have infirmities. But, by the word of the oath that is after the law, the Son has been perfected for eternity. BSB BSB: For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.