1 Corinthians 15:24-28:

Christ as God’s Vizier and General

The image of Christ in 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 is remarkably like the figure of Melchizedek in the 11QMelchizedek fragment. Christ is seen as the chief agent and vice-regent who will subdue all creation under his rule and then deliver the kingdom of God in subjection to the rule of God. The text reads:

24. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power.

25. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

26. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

27. “For he subjected everything under his feet.” But when it says that everything has been subjected, it is clear that it excludes the One who subjected everything to him.

28. When everything is subjected to him, then the Son himself will [also] be subjected to the One who subjected everything to him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:24-28, NAB)

This passage is the clearest indication in Paul’s letters that he views Christ as God’s chief agent and vice-regent second only to God the Father. Christ rules as God’s appointed agent who has overcome all enemies, including the last enemy, death, Christ then delivers the kingdom that he has conquered to the Father. At that point, Christ’s rule is brought to a conclusion and the Father then becomes the ultimate ruler over all. It is stated very clearly that the Son is then subject to God the Father, so that God is glorified as the ruler over all—so tat God can be sovereign in his reign.

The comparison with Melchizedek in the Dead Sea Scrolls, who plays the same role as the general who leads the heavenly assembly of gods against the enemies of God (the minions of Beliel who are the fallen angels referred to in Psalm 82), is fairly transparent. I am not claiming that 1 Corinthians 15 is dependent on the Melchizedek text; rather, there was a common tradition that God’s vice regent would defeat the enemies of God and deliver the undisputed rule of the kingdom to God. Christ also takes the role of the Son of Man in Daniel 7 who defeats the enemies of God and delivers the kingdom to the Ancient of Days. The text of 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 is also probably dependent on Psalm 110:1 which states that the enthroned “Lord” will “make your enemies your footstool,” or place them at God’s feet. The Lord says: “Rule over your enemies!” (Psalm 110:3) to the Son who has been enthroned at God’s right hand.