Texts in Conversation
The Dead Sea Scroll 11Q13 describes Melchizedek as a divine judge who fulfills Psalm 82 by overthrowing unjust deities, freeing the righteous, and restoring justice. In 1 Corinthians, Jesus is depicted in a similar role of a mediator bringing justice.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
11Q13 2:12
The Heavenly Prince Melchizedek
Dead Sea Scrolls, Biblical Interpretation
10 about him in the songs of David, who said, “God stands in the assembly [of El]; in the midst of the gods he judges.” And about him he said, “And above it 11 return to the heights; God will judge the peoples.” As for what he said, [“How long] will you judge unjustly and show favor to the wicked? Selah,” 12 its interpretation concerns Belial and the spirits of his lot, who […] … in their turning away from the statutes of God [to act wickedly]. 13 But Melchizedek will carry out the vengeance of the judgments of God, [and on that day he will] deliver them [from the hand of] Belial and from the hand of all the spirits [of his lot]. 14 To his aid come all the gods [of righteousness], and he is the one who […] all the sons of God, and the …
Date: 100–50 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Corinthians 15:23
New Testament
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when he has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be eliminated is death. 27 For he has put everything in subjection under his feet. But when it says “everything” has been put in subjection, it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection to him.
Date: 55–57 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Already in early Judaism before Paul, as witnessed at Qumran, there were traditions that read the 'god' who passed judgment on the 'gods' in Psalm 82:1 as a principal mediatorial figure, in this case Melchizedek, as seen 11Q13 ... Here we find Melchizedek from Genesis 14 and Psalm 110 as the 'god' of Psalm 82 who carries out God's judgments against the gods, freeing God's people from 'Belial and from the hand of all the spirits of his lot' ..."
Burnett, David A.
A Neglected Deuteronomic Scriptural Matrix for the Nature of the Resurrection Body in 1 Corinthians 15:39–42
(pp. 187-212) Fortress Academic, 2019
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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