15
faith.
44
Hamm also argues that the combination of the two words (i.e., aj
rchgov
"
and teleiwthv
"
)
gives the sense that Jesus is the beginner and the finisher of Christian faith, making him to be the
enabler of faith.
45
Thus he concludes that Jesus is the model and enabler of faith.
However, an examination of the term aj
rchgov
"
in Hebrews reveals that Jesus is regarded not
only as the enabler and model of faith, but also as the object of faith for believers. The word is
used four times in the New Testament (Acts 3:15; 5:31; Heb 2:10; 12:2). An analysis of the
context of these passages indicates that the word is always used in association with the salvific
work of Christ. It is used in contexts which describe the death and resurrection or exaltation of
Jesus.
46
More specifically, in Hebrews the word is used to refer to Jesus not only as the model of
faith, but also the founder of salvation (i.e., the object and content of faith). In 2:9 the author
mentions that Jesus was crowned with glory because of the suffering of death. This is clearly a
reference to the death, resurrection, and exaltation of Jesus in his earthly life. In addition, the use
of the word salvation (swthriv
a
) in 2:10 further supports that Jesus is viewed as the object of
faith. The word swthriv
a
occurs seven times in Hebrews (1:14; 2:3; 2:10; 5:29; 6:9; 9:28; 11:7).
In 11:7 it is used in reference to the physical deliverance of Noah and his family. However, in the
rest of the passages, the word denotes the spiritual salvation. For this reason Scott suggests that
the aj
rchgov
"
of salvation has the sense of the aj
rchgov
"
of the new age. That is to say, Jesus is
the one "through whose sufferings (the `birth pangs of the Messiah') the new age becomes a
reality and whose personal honor and glory, which is shared with `his sons,' is a major
characteristic of it."
47
In this sense, it is reasonable to understand that the phrase "aj
rchgov
"
of
43 Walter Bauer, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 2nd ed.,
trans. and adapted by W. F. Arndt, F. W. Gingrich, and Frederick W. Danker (Chicago: The University of Chicago,
1979), 112.
44 Dennis Hamm, "Faith in the Epistle to the Hebrews: The Jesus Factor," 287.
45 Ibid.
46 Ellingworth, The Epistle to the Hebrews, 160.
47 J. Julius Scott, "Archegos in the Salvation History of the Epistle to the Hebrews," Journal of the Evangelical
Theological Society 29 (1986), 50.