Yet there can be no doubt that he was worthy of very great respect; even great Abraham paid tithes to him, and was blessed by him, clearly showing Melchizedek's superiority over Abraham (Heb.7:2,7). Paul is not just doing mental gymnastics with Scripture. There was a very real problem in the first century which the Melchizedek argument could solve. The Jews were reasoning:
Hata hivyo hapawezi kuwepo shaka kwani alistahili heshima kubwa kabisa; hata Ibrahimu alipokuwa akirudi katika kuwapiga hao Wafalme, akambariki, ambaye Ibrahimu alimgawia sehemu ya kumi ya vitu vyote, jambo hili linaonyesha wazi ubora wa Melkizedeki kumpita Ibrahimu (Ebra. 7:2, 7).