Edify Ministries®
Building up the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12)
Edify Ministries®Building up the Body of Christ (Eph. 4:12)
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Hebrews[For use with our Bible Studies] Index to chaptersPut in brackets [ ] contrasts that are inferred.
Hermeneutics of the Author in this chapter The only two references in the Old Testament to Melchizedek are Gen. 14:17-20 and Psa. 110:4. Yet on these slight references the author of Hebrews build much of his argument concerning the superiority of the Priesthood of Jesus. This raises the question "How does the author of Hebrews get so much out of so little?" or "What are the hermeneutics of the author of Hebrews?" The first thing we should note is that the author does not deny, nor make insignificant the actual historical event recorded in Genesis. He holds a literal and historical hermeneutic. Next, we observe that the author uses Psa 110:4 to interpret Gen. 14:17-20. Therefore, the author holds a hermeneutic that says, "Scripture interprets scripture." A third observation is that the author uses the etymology or meaning of a person's name and title to describe the character of the one bearing name or title. (Heb. 7:2) This is a common practice in the Old Testament (1 Sam. 25:25; Isa. 8). Therefore, that author uses a hermeneutic that allows for the spiritual significance of names. A final observation is that the author of Hebrews bases one of his major points (the eternality of Melchizedek's priesthood) on the absence of details in the Genesis account. The author's right to do this is validated by the Psa. 110:4 where Melchizedek's priesthood is said to be eternal. Making positive assertions based on a lack of information is normally considered a logical fallacy. A possible solution to this is to say that inspiration applies to the selective recording of data, and that it is permissible in the historical narratives to draw inferences based on what is left out of the account. However, before doing this one should get support from other passages, just like the author of Hebrews did. Ryrie used to say that in Genesis, we do not have a video of Melchizedek but a snap shot, hence his priesthood stands unchanged and therefore, as recorded, it is eternal. In Hebrews, Jesus' priesthood is eternal because it is based on resurrection life. This chapter serves as a model of how to interpret certain Old Testament passages. Many have pushed the model here too far and used it as a basis for extensive allegorical interpretation. Note the following points: The author makes only a simple parallel between the earthly tabernacle and "the greater and more perfect tabernacle" (vs. 11). Now based on that simple analogy he shows the contrasts between the two. His focus is on the contrasts and not the similarities. The Holy Spirit (vs. 8) is given credit for using the ritual to indicate spiritual things. The priests or worshipers under the old covenant could have understood that there were limitations in their approach to God. They probably did not understand the details of how God was going to eliminate these limitations. All they need to understand was that their system of worship was not perfect. (It was earthly, did not clear one conscience, and had to be repeated.) These limitations were designed to cause them to look, by faith, forward to the perfection of these things. Before we use a passage to build a hermeneutical principle, we must understand the purpose of that passage in the logical flow of the whole book. The purpose of this material in Hebrews is to show the limitations of the old covenant, so we are safe in saying that limitations seen in the Old Testament indicate that God will later provide for perfection. Only when we see that perfection we can say, "this is that" which was shown to us before. Note also that the author does not build a system of numerous, recondite analogies. He stays with the bigger picture. This should encourage us to do likewise.
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