ἀρχηγός

From the study of Hebrews 12:2

Range of meaning

Literally 'one who leads off' (archē, first or beginning, plus agō, to lead). In use it meant: (1) a leader or chief, such as the head of a tribe or a military commander; (2) a founder or originator, such as the founder of a city, a family or a school of thought; (3) the hero who opens a way and brings others after him. BDAG gives two senses: 'leader, ruler, prince' and 'one who begins or originates, founder'.

Against the English

KJV and BSB 'author', ESV 'founder', NIV 'pioneer', NLT 'champion who initiates'. In 1611, 'author' (from Latin auctor) meant an originator, which is acceptable. Today 'author' brings to mind a writer, so the picture of someone leading from the front is lost. 'Founder' keeps the idea of origin but loses the movement. 'Pioneer' and 'champion' come closest to the athletic and military picture of someone who goes first and brings others along.

How it drifted

The English 'author' comes through the Latin Vulgate's 'auctor fidei'. As 'author' narrowed in modern English to mean mainly a writer, the leading, trailblazing side of archēgos dropped out of view.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used of tribal heads and military leaders (e.g. Num 13:2–3; Judg 11:6, 11, of Jephthah as leader). In classical and Hellenistic Greek it is used of city-founders and of the founding heroes of families and cults. In the NT it occurs only four times, always of Jesus: Acts 3:15 ('archēgos of life'), Acts 5:31 ('archēgos and Savior'), Heb 2:10 ('archēgos of their salvation', who brings 'many sons to glory'), and here.

From the study of Hebrews 2:10

Range of meaning

A leader who goes at the head of a group; a pioneer who opens a way for others; a founder or originator (of a city, family or school); a champion or hero. The ideas of 'first' (archē) and 'leading' (agō) merge in it.

Against the English

KJV 'captain' keeps the leading but sounds narrowly military. BSB, WEB and NASB 'author' (and ESV 'founder') keep the originating but lose the going-ahead. NIV and NRSV 'pioneer' keeps both. The supplied gloss 'archetype' is unusual and not the standard sense.

How it drifted

English has no single word that holds both 'originator' and 'trailblazer who leads others along his route'. 'Author' in particular now suggests a writer.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX it is used for tribal heads (Num 13:2–3) and military commanders (Judg 11:6, 11). Num 14:4 has 'let us appoint an archēgos and return to Egypt', which contrasts with Hebrews 3–4, where Jesus leads the people into rest. In Greek usage it describes city founders and hero-founders such as Heracles. Elsewhere in the NT: Acts 3:15 ('archēgos of life'), 5:31, Heb 12:2 ('archēgos and perfecter of faith').

From the study of Acts 3:15

Range of meaning

Built from archē (beginning, first place, rule) and agō (to lead). In the Greek of the period it covers several connected ideas:

• leader, chief, captain: the head of a tribe, clan or army;
• founder, originator: the hero who founded a city or family line, or the person who started something, "the one who began it";
• trailblazer: one who goes first and opens the way for others to follow.

The word often holds these together: the founder is also the first leader, and the one who leads people into something new is also its source.

Against the English

"Prince" (KJV, WEB, YLT, NASB) catches the leader/ruler side. "Author" (BSB, NIV, ESV, NLT) catches the source/originator side. Neither covers both. Neither brings out the picture of someone who goes ahead and leads others in, which is strong in the word's other New Testament uses (Heb 2:10, "bringing many sons to glory"; Heb 12:2, the one who ran the race first).

How it drifted

Both English words were once nearer the mark than they are now. "Prince" in 1611 meant a chief ruler (from Latin princeps, "first man"). Today it suggests a king's son or heir. "Author" comes from Latin auctor, "originator" (the Vulgate here has auctorem vitae). Today people first hear "writer of a book".

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: used for heads of the tribes and clans (Num 13:2–3; 10:4). Jephthah is made archēgos of Gilead, its military head (Judg 11:6, 11). In Num 14:4 the rebels say, "Let us appoint an archēgos and go back to Egypt": a leader to take the people somewhere. In Mic 1:13 Lachish is archēgos hamartias, "the beginning" or source of sin, which is the originator sense. 1 Macc 10:47 has archēgos logōn eirēnikōn, the one who first proposed peace terms.

Wider Greek: used for founding heroes of cities and families, and for gods as founders of a people or a cult.

New Testament: only four times: Acts 3:15; 5:31 ("archēgos and Savior"); Heb 2:10 ("archēgos of their salvation"); Heb 12:2 ("archēgos and perfecter of faith"). BDAG lists both a "leader, ruler" sense and an "originator, founder" sense. It places this verse mainly under the second.