Melchizedek and Abraham
(Genesis 14:17–24)

1This Melchisedech kynge of Salem (which beynge prest of the most hye God, met Abraham as he returned agayne from the slaughter of the kynges, & blessed him, 2vnto whom Abraham also gaue tithes of all the goodes) first is by interpretacion kynge of righteousnes: after that is he kynge of Salem also (that is to saye, kynge of peace) 3without father, without mother, without kynne, and hath nether begynnynge of dayes, ner ende of life: but is likened vnto the sonne of God, and contynueth a prest for euer.

4But cosider how greate a man this was, to whom the Patriarke Abraham gaue tithes of the spoyles. 5And verely the children of Leui, whan they receaue the presthode, haue a commaundement acordynge to the lawe, to take the tithes of the people, that is to saye, of their brethre, though they also came out of the loynes of Abraham. 6But he whose kynred is not counted amoge them, receaued tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promes. 7Now is it so without all naysayenge, that the lesse receaueth blessynge of ye better. 8And here men that dye, receaue tithes. But there he receaueth tithes, of whom it is witnessed that he lyueth. 9And to saye the trueth, Leui himselfe also which receaueth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham: 10for he was yet in the loynes of his father Abraham, whan Melchisedech met him.

A Superior Priesthood

11Yf now therfore perfeccion came by the presthode of the Leuites (for vnder the same (presthode) the people receaued the lawe) what neded it then furthurmore, that another prest shulde ryse after the order of Melchisedech, and not after the order of Aaron? 12For yf the presthode be traslated, the of necessite must the lawe be translated also. 13For he of whom these thinges are spoken, is of another trybe, of the which neuer man serued at the altare. 14For it is euidet, that oure LORDE spronge of the trybe of Iuda, to the which trybe Moses spake nothinge cocernynge presthode, 15And it is yet a more euident thinge, yf after the symilitude of Mechisedech there aryse another prest, 16which is not made after ye lawe of the carnall commaundement, but after the power of the endlesse life

17(For he testifieth: Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech)

18then the commaundement that wente before, is disanulled, because of his weaknesse, and vnprofitablenes. 19For the lawe made nothinge perfecte, but was an introduccion of a better hope, by ye which hope we drawe nye vnto God. 20And for this cause is it a better hope, yt it was not promysed without an ooth.

21Those prestes were made without an ooth, but this prest with an ooth, by him that sayde vnto him: The LORDE sware, and wyl not repente: Thou art a prest for euer after the order of Melchisedech.

22Thus is Iesus become a stablissher of so moch a better Testamete.

23And amonge them many were made prestes, because they were not suffred to endure by the reason of death. 24But this man, because that he endureth euer, hath an euerlastinge presthode. 25Wherfore he is able also euer to saue them, that come vnto God by him: & lyueth euer, to make intercession for vs.

26For it became vs to haue soch an hye prest as is holy, innocent, vndefyled, separate from synners, and made hyer then heauen: 27which nedeth not daylie (as yonder hye prestes) to offre vp sacrifice first for his awne synnes, and then for the peoples synnes. For that dyd he once for all, whan he offered vp him selfe. 28For the lawe maketh men prestes which haue infirmitie: but the worde of the ooth, that came sence the lawe, maketh the sonne prest, which is perfecte for euermore.