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Tue May 3 10:41:24 EDT 2011
"In the LXX, ARCHEGOS translates 9 different Hebrew words and 2 other forms in 30 appearances (34 including the Apocryphal writings). The term Ro'sh is usually (16x) translated. It was used for the "heads" of households (Ex 6:14; Num 10:4, 1 Chron 8:28) and "leaders" in general (Num 14:4). Archegos twice translateds "NASI" as "prince, captain, leader" (Num 13:3 [LXX 13:4]; 16:2) In the Greek writings, both concepts are present. It can refer to the head of a house (1 Esdras 5:1), a captain (Judith 14:2) and in Maccabes the
idea of "originator" probably comes through (1 Mac 9:61 - cf 10:47)."
So I prefer Chief, Prince, Captain, Leader as showing that Jesus is:
* accorded highest rank or office of the faith
* of greatest importance or influence concerning the faith
* the essence of the faith in its purest and most concentrated form
* the most typical example or representative of the faith
But what of the coupling with TELEIWTHN that was so conclusive to Carl and others?
There is a coupling. But it is not "he gave us belief and will keep us
believing" as so many read it with delight, but flies in the face of the
context of the book of Hebrews!
Here is some light on TELEIWTHN:
* it is a hapax
* it comes from the word "Goal" [TELOS]
* it has the sense "the one who gets it to the goal"
So, Jesus is the Chief Faith-Man and the One who "got it to the goal". It is not saying "He is the one who originates *our* belief and sustains *our belief* to the goal. We are told to "look away to Him...run with patience" because He is the perfect, main *example* of the One who reached the goal. More so than Abe, more so than Paul.
Bill Ross
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