Melchizedek's Canaanite Origin and Christ's Lineage
That Melchizedek's race is shown to be Canaanite, it is clearly evidenced also from those whom he ruled and over whose regions he reigned; for he was closer to Sodom, and closer to Abraham dwelling by the Mamre oak. And I think also that he happened to be king of Salem, which is this much-throned Jerusalem. And shortly after.
If then Melchizedek is clearly like the Son of God, he will not be without father, nor without mother, nor without genealogy, but the things of the flesh will be genealogized according to the nature of the flesh, while something else regarding the being without genealogy will be seen, just as we also neglect the matter concerning Christ; for Christ indeed is genealogized according to the body, but according to the highest rank he has an unstated genealogy, as we have previously demonstrated.
Regarding this, Chrysostom says: Many, not having understood the things said about Melchizedek, have spoken of this one as greater than Christ and have established for themselves a heresy, who are also called Melchizedekians. Therefore, emulating and desiring to show that Melchizedek is greater than Christ, they bring to us as witness the Scripture saying: 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek' (Psalm 110:4). For how, he says, could he not be greater, of whom Christ priestens according to the icon and the order? But others, having been led astray, say that he is the Holy Spirit. But we say him...
Greek
Ὅτι δὲ Χαναναῖος τὸ γένος δείκνυται ὁ Μελχισεδέκ, ἔστι δήπου τεκμήρασθαι καὶ ἀπ' αὐτῶν ἐκείνων ὧν ἐκράτει καὶ ἐβασίλευε κλιμάτων καὶ οἷς ἐπλησίαζεν· ἀστυγείτων μὲν γὰρ ἦν Σοδόμων πλησιαίτερος δὲ τῷ Ἀβραὰμ οἰκοῦντι πρὸς τῇ δρϋὶ τῇ Μαμβρῇ. Οἶμαι δὲ <ὅτι> καὶ Σαλὴμ ἐκείνης ἐτύγχανε βασιλεύς, ἥ ἐστιν ἡ πολυθρύλητος αὕτη Ἱερουσαλήμ. Καὶ μετ' ὀλίγον τόπον. Οὐκοῦν εἰ σαφῶς ἔοικεν ὁ Μελχισεδὲκ τῷ υἱῷ τοῦ Θεοῦ, οὐκ ἀπάτωρ οὐδὲ ἀμήτωρ οὐδὲ ἀγενεαλόγητος ἔσται, ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν τῆς σαρκὸς κατὰ τὴν φύσιν τῆς σαρκὸς γενεαλογηθήσεται, θάτερον δέ τι τὸ ἀγενεαλόγητον ὀφθήσεται καθάπερ οὖν ἀμέλει καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ· καὶ γὰρ ὁ Χριστὸς κατὰ μὲν δὴ τὸ σῶμα γενεαλογεῖται, κατὰ δὲ τὴν ἀνωτάτω τάξιν ἀδιήγητον ἔχει τὴν γενεὰν ὡς προαποδεδώκαμεν. 2 Τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου εἰς αὐτό· Πολλοὶ μὴ νοήσαντες τὰ περὶ τοῦ Μελχισεδὲκ εἰρημένα μείζονα τοῦ Χριστοῦ τοῦτον εἰρήκασι καὶ συνεστήσαντο ἑαυτοῖς αἵρεσιν, οἳ καὶ λέγονται Μελχισεδεκιανοί. Φιλονεικοῦντες οὖν καὶ βουλόμενοι δεῖξαι ὅτι μείζων ἐστὶ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ὁ Μελχισεδὲκ προφέρουσιν ἡμῖν μάρτυρα τὴν γραφὴν λέγουσαν· Σὺ ἱερεὺς εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα κατὰ τὴν τάξιν Μελχισεδέκ. Πῶς γάρ, φησίν, οὐκ ἂν εἴη μείζων, οὗ κατὰ τὴν εἰκόνα καὶ τὴν τάξιν ἱερατεύει ὁ Χριστός; Ἄλλοι δὲ πλανηθέντες λέγουσιν αὐτὸν εἶναι τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ ἅγιον. Ἡμεῖς δὲ λέγομεν αὐτὸν
About this text
Eustathius on Melchizedek (Genesis 14 / Psalm 110).
Original English Translation — new OET from PG 18 Greek.
Catalogue & scope
Khazarzar scan
Witnesses
- Copy-text PG 18 (Khazarzar) (Greek)
This is an AI-assisted study translation. Source fidelity and completeness have not been independently certified. Open Greek on each section for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.