Jesus, The Author & Finisher of Faith

The faith of Jesus, Introduction Part 1:

Over the past four and a half years, in Volumes 1 & 2 of Faith Studies, we have examined how the 16 Old Testament Saints named in Hebrews 11 were born witness to by their faith. Now, in Hebrews 12:11 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

the author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, exhorts the believing Hebrews to whom this book was written to remember the witness of faith of all those mentioned in the eleventh chapter and in Hebrews 12:22 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

he writes: "looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of (the word "our" is not in the original) faith, Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." This study will examine what being the "Author" of faith means. The next will deal with the implication of Him being the "Finisher" thereof.

The Greek word used in the original manuscripts of the Bible that is translated "Author" by the King James translators in Hebrews 12:2 is "archegos" and it is only found four (4) times in the New Testament, twice in Acts and twice in Hebrews. "A Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament" by Ethelbert W. Bullinger gives the meaning of this word as: "beginning, originating, with article - the leader, founder, princely-leader." The four verses, Acts 3:1515 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

and 5:31; Hebrews 2:1010 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

and 12:2, in which this word is used will be quoted with the English word used to translate "archegos" highlighted, followed by comments on each, as follows:

First it is noted that we could learn much by studying these four verses in depth but space does not permit here. The primary fact we note for the purpose of this study is that the Holy Spirit always used the word "archegos" to identify an office/ attribute of Jesus Christ and this in reference to the Jews.

1. Acts 3:14 & 1514 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

- "But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you: And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses."

Jesus Christ is named as the "Prince of life." Current English Dictionaries give a number of meanings for the word Prince but the one that best fits the present context is: "History/Historical. a sovereign or monarch; king." and "a person or thing that is chief or preeminent in any class, group, etc.: a merchant prince."

The Greek word translated "life" here is the same word that Jesus used to describe Himself in John 14:66 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

: "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." So, from John 14:6 and Acts 3:14 & 15, using the definition found in the Lexicon we come to understand that Jesus Christ was/is the "beginning, the originating, the leader, founder, princely -leader" of life. It was He as the Word of God Who breathed life into the first man Adam when He created Adam and it is certainly He that gives eternal life to all who believe in Him, John 3:1616 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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2. Acts 5:3131 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

- "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."

The Lord Jesus Christ is named here as being exalted as the Prince and Savior to provide repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. The context of this verse is the Apostle Peter telling the unbelieving Jewish High Priest and Chief Priests of the Temple of his time, Acts 5:24 & 2724 Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

25 Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

26 Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

, that the man Jesus, Who God had raised up and Who they had killed, was now exalted as the "beginning, the originating, the leader, founder, princely -leader" and Savior to provide repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. The High Priest and Chief Priests of the Temple did not like what Peter said but it nevertheless was/is true. The man Jesus who they had killed, was raised up from the dead and exalted in a position in the heavens as the Captain, the Prince, the Author and Savior to provide repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

3. Hebrews 2:10 - "For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings."

Jesus Christ is named as the "Captain of their salvation." The current English Dictionaries give a number of meanings for the word Captain but the one that bests fits the context here is: "a person who is at the head of or in authority over others; chief; leader."

So according to Hebrews 2:10 the second person of the Trinity was made a little lower than the angels, Hebrews 2:77 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:

, in order to suffer death as a man that through suffering He might bring salvation to all who believe on Him, Hebrews 2:9 & 109 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

. Thus Jesus was/is the Captain, the Prince, the Author of salvation to those who believe in Him, John 3:16.

4. Hebrews 12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of (the word "our" is not in the original) faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Jesus Christ is here named as the "Author and Finisher of Faith." The current English Dictionaries give a number of meanings for the word Author but the one that best fits this context is "the maker of anything; creator; originator:" and "the author of a new tax plan. to originate; create a design for: She authored a new system for teaching chemistry."

In order to further grasp the meaning of the Greek word "archegos" I called a Greek friend of mine who lives in Athens, Greece. He was born, raised and educated in Greece. I asked him what the word archegos means to him. I did not tell him how this word is used in the Bible but just spelled the word out to him and asked for the meaning thereof. Without looking in a dictionary, etc., he spontaneously said it means "the first of a group, captain, leader, the one who leads other people."

Hebrews 12:2 teaches that Jesus was/is the "archegos" of faith. So, from a Greek Lexicon, from a man educated in the Greek language, from the contexts in which this word was used in the New Testament, we can understand that He was/is the originator; the first in order; the One responsible -- for faith. We know from other Scripture that before His incarnation on earth (that is, His life as a man) He stood as the second person of the Trinity of God, John 5:1818 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

; Philippians 2:66 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

, for He was God. In fact He was the Word of God, John 1:11 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

, and as such it was He Who spoke to all those Saints we have studied in the Old Testament at various times and in different ways, Hebrews 1:11 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

. Faith came to them by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10:1717 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

. Each of those saints were born witness to by their faith, Hebrews 11. In each of their individual cases God did what He said He would do and all that each individual Saint did was obey God's Word by faith to carry out God's Word. Then, at a point in history approximately 2000 years ago, that Word Who spoke to each of those Saints became flesh and dwelt among mankind, John 1:1414 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

, that is, Jesus was born.

Jesus went on as a man to live a perfect life of faith. Our next study will examine the use of the Greek word translated "Finisher," as in "Finisher of faith" in an attempt to understand what it means that He finished faith, as stated in Hebrews 12:2.