I have a question about the first part of Hebrews 12:2 “Let us fix our eyes upon Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” What are the definitions of the Greek words for author and finisher and how do they relate to our faith?
The writer of Hebrews said Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. By using the possessive pronoun “our” he gave a specific meaning to the word faith. This is not just faith in general, as when an unbeliever says, “Have faith. Everything will be fine.” This is the faith that saved us. It’s our faith.
Author and finisher are adjectives describing Jesus as both the cause and fulfillment of our faith.
The root word for author is arche which means beginning, or origin. It’s because of who Jesus is that we can have faith in His promise to save us.
The root for finisher is teleioo which means to make perfect or complete. It’s because of what Jesus did that our faith is complete. There’s nothing lacking, nothing that has to be added.
When He died for us, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). The finisher had finished it.
Peter said, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)