Quick Definition
originator, author, founder
Strong's Definition
a chief leader
Derivation: from G746 (ἀρχή) and G71 (ἄγω);
KJV Usage: author, captain, prince
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀρχηγός, ἀρχηγόν, adjective, leading, furnishing the first cause or occasion: Euripides, Hipp. 881; Plato, Crat., p. 401 d.; chiefly used as a substantive, ὁ, ἡ, ἀρχηγός (ἀρχή and ἄγω);
1. the chief leader, prince: of Christ, Act_5:31; (Aeschylus Ag. 259; Thucydides 1, 132;. The Sept. Isa_3:5; 2Ch_23:14, and often).
2. "one that takes the lead in anything (1Ma_10:47, ἀρχηγός λόγων εἰρηνικῶν) and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter": τῆς πίστεως, of Christ, Heb_12:2 (who in the prominence of his faith far surpassed the examples of faith commemorated in Heb_11:1-40) (others bring this under the next head; yet cf. Kurtz at the passage). So ἀρχηγός ἁμαρτίας, Mic_1:13; ζήλους, Clement of Rome, 1Co_14:1-40; 1Co_1:1-31 [ET]; τῆς στάσεως καί διχοστασίας, ibid. 51, 1; τῆς ἀποστασιας, of the devil, Irenaeus 4, 40, 1; τοιαυτης φιλοσοφίας, of Thales, Aristotle, met. 1, 3, 7 (p. 983{b} 20). Hence,
3. the author: τῆς ζωῆς, Act_3:15; τῆς σωτηρίας, Heb_2:10. (Often so in secular authors: τῶν πάντων, of God (Plato) Tim. Locr., p. 96 c.; τοῦ γένους τῶν ἀνθρώπων, of God, Diodorus 5, 72; ἀρχηγός καί αἴτιος, leader and author, are often joined, as Polybius 1, 66, 10; Herodian, 2, 6, 22 (14, Bekker edition)). Cf. Bleek on Heb. vol. ii. 1, p. 301f.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀρχηγός archēgos 4x
a chief, leader, prince, Act_5:31 ;
a prime author, Act_3:15 ; Heb_2:10 ; Heb_12:2
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἀρχηγός , -όν ,
[in LXX for H7218 , H5387 etc.;]
beginning, originating: more freq ., as subst .;
1. founder, author (Lat. auchor; so some\-times in Papyri, v. MM , s.v. ; Milligan , NTD , 75): Act_3:15 ( R , mg .), Heb_2:10 ( R , txt .; but v. Westc ., in l , and Page , Ac., l.c .).
2. prince, leader (so in MGr ., v. Kennedy, Sources , 153): Act_3:15 ( R , txt .) Act_5:31 , Heb_2:10 ( cf. R , mg .) 122 ( Cremer , 117).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀρχηγός [page 81]
To determine between founder and leader in Heb_2:10 ; Heb_12:2 , Act_3:15 ; Act_5:31 , is a complex question which would carry us beyond the limits of a lexical note. But our few citations go to emphasize the closeness of correspondence with auctor , which it evidently translates in a Proconsul s edict, Syll 316 .8 (ii/B.C.) ἐγεγόνει ἀρχηγὸς τῆς ὃλης συγχύσεως , 17 τὸν γεγονότα ἀρχηγὸν [τ ]ῶν πραχθέντων . So P Oxy I. 41 .5, .6 (iii/iv A.D.), where a crowd shouts repeatedly in honour of the prytanis, ἀρχηγὲ τῶν ἀγαθῶν , source of our blessings, auctor bonorum. The phrase is found five centuries earlier in the Rosetta stone, OGIS 90 .47 . . . anniversaries which are πολλῶν ἀγαθῶν ἀρχηγοὶ (π )ᾶσι . In OGIS 212 .13 Apollo is ἀ . τοῦ [γένους ] of Seleucus Nicator (B.C. 306 280) whose mother was said to have dreamed that she conceived by Apollo : so in 219 .26 of his son Antiochus I. (Soter). P Oxy X. 1241 iii. 35 (ii/A.D., lit.) ἀ . φόνου the first shedder. The other meaning leader is seen in Kaibel 585 (Gaul) ἱερέων ἀρχηγοῦ , of a high priest of Mithras. So still in MGr.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
ἀρχηγός [Etym: ἡγέομαι] "beginning, originating" a thing, c. gen., Eur. as Subst., like ἀρχηγέτης, "founder", of a tutelary hero, Soph. "a prince, chief", Aesch. , Simon. , Thuc. "a first cause, originator", τοῦ πράγματος Xen.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ἀρχηγός, -όν
[in LXX for רֹאשׁ, נָשִׂיא etc. ;]
beginning, originating: more freq., as subst.;
__1. founder, author (Lat. auchor; so sometimes in π., see MM, see word; Milligan, NTD, 75): Act.3:15 (R, mg.), Heb.2:10 (R, txt.; but see Westc., in l, and Page, Ac., l.with).
__2. prince, leader (so in MGr., see Kennedy, Sources, 153): Act.3:15 (R, txt.) Act.5:31, Heb.2:10 (cf. R, mg.) 122 (Cremer, 117).†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Prince (747) archegos
Author (747) (archegos form arche = beginning/rule + ágo = lead) can denote a leader, a ruler, or one who begins something as the first in a series. The term was used for both human and divine heroes, founders of schools or those who cut a path forward for their followers and whose exploits for humanity were rewarded by exaltation.
See the similar picture of Jesus as our Forerunner in (Hebrews 6:20)
where (within the veil, into heaven itself) Jesus has entered as a Forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (NASB: Lockman) (See note Hebrews 6:20)
In Greek writings archegos was used of a "hero" who founded a city, gave it a name, and became its guardian. It also denoted one who was "head" of a family or "founder" of a philosophic school. The term also had distinct military connotation referring to a commander of an army who went ahead of his men and blazed the trail for them!
Archegos always refers to someone who involves others in his endeavor. For example, it is used of a man who starts and heads a family, into which others are born or married. It is used of a man who founds a city, in which others come to live. It was commonly used of a pioneer who blazed a trail for others to follow. The archegos never stood at the rear giving orders. He was always out front, leading and setting the example. As the supreme Archegos, Christ does not stand at the rear giving orders. He is always before us, as perfect Leader and perfect Example.
Archegos is variously translated as “Author” (NASB, NIV) “Captain” (KJV), “Pioneer” (NRSV), “Leader” (cf. TEV) or “Champion.”
See F B Meyer's devotional - Our Captain
Archegos is used 4 times in the NT, here in Hebrews 2:10 and in the verses below, every use speaking of Jesus...
Acts 3:15 (Peter speaking to the Jews declared that they) but put to death the Prince (archegos) of life (the originator or leader of life), the One Whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.
Acts 5:31 (Peter speaking boldly before the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin declared) "He (Jesus) is the one Whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince (archegos) and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins."
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author (archegos) and Perfecter (teleiotes - compare with God perfecting Jesus in Heb 2:10) of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (See notes Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 12:2)
Archegos describes the one leading off or blazing the trail as a pioneer. Jesus has led the way to life. Real life begins with death of our old man on the Cross, rendering his power inactive in our lives.
Vincent feels that the rendering of archegos as
"author, which misses the fact that the Son precedes the saved on the path to glory. The idea is rather leader, and is fairly expressed by captain."
Alford writes that...
He who has thus been shown to be the “Captain of salvation” (KJV) to the “many sons,” by trusting and suffering like them, must therefore become man like them, in order that His death may be efficacious for them.
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