To understand this verse, let us examine the original Greek translation from the verse, get the other English rendering of the words in question, parallel that with other writings of Paul for context and then get through the historic effectivity of what has happened on our “way to salvation“(John. 14:6).

Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author (archegos) and finisher (teleiotes) of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The English translation “author” connotes “originator” and may not be accurate. It appears that the essence of “archegos” may actually be the “beginner” and not with connotation as an “author”. “Author” comes from Greek word “archegos” which also means chief leader; one that takes the lead in any thing and thus affords an example, a predecessor in a matter, a pioneer or trailblazer.

While the Son started it, a well-established truth is that it was the Father who planned all and the Son that executes the plan. This truth is proven by :

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God (Father) sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”(Galatians 4:4-6).  

The Father did not just do the “sending” but also established the “time” when the Son will be sent or incarnate through ” a woman“(Mary). 

Even all creation, while actually done proximately by the Logos/Creator God/YHVH (just saying the “word“) was also because of and planned by the Father (I Cor. 8:6; John.1:3; Colossians . 1:16). Moreover, Peter and Jude confirmed that it was the Father who orchestrated salvation in the covenant. Election, and foreknowledge (I Peter 1:2), and Sanctification (Jude 1) refer to the initial act of God (Father) whereby He chose those whom He loved and set them apart to salvation before the foundation of the world.  God(the Father) foreknew people,”For whom He did foreknow…” (Rom. 8:29). God’s choice of a people before the world began was based on His own initiative to establish a covenant relationship with those whom He loved: “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God…” Those whom He loved and chose, He also set apart for Himself, that is, He sanctified them (Jude 1). 

Similarly, the Father “sanctified” the Son (i.e. set Him apart in the covenant of grace) and sent Him into the world (John 10:36, He also sanctified His people (again, He set them apart in the covenant as His own special people) and “sent redemption” to them: “He sent redemption to His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name ” (Psalms 111:9). It was precisely this group of people, i.e., those set apart in the covenant, who were redeemed by Jesus Christ: “For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:14). 

The Galatians passage presents God the Father as the great Choreographer of salvation, dispatching (sending) the Son (v.4) and the Spirit of Christ (v.6) at the precise and appropriate time, in order to bring us into his family as His adopted sons. The Father who initiated the covenant also orchestrates and deploys the covenant requirements for salvation (Eph. 1:5).

As to “…finisher (teleiotes) of our faith“, consider the following:
While it was Jesus who started/began, as in  “And I am sure of this, that he who began (enarchomai) a good work in you...”

He will also “bring it to completion (epiteleo) at the day of Jesus Christ.“(Philippians 1:6)

enarchomai: to begin,commence

epiteleo:to fulfill further; to complete,to bring to an end, to make perfect.

Jesus is the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:28-30), and through Him we receive the promise of the Spirit (Galatians 3:13-14).
“Finisher” is from “teleiotes“:a perfector; completer, consummater, one who has in his own person raised faith to its perfection and so set before us the highest example of faith.
” For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.    For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,    Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.    And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” (Hebrews 2:10-13)

“And being made perfect, he became the author (aitios) of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;”(Hebrews 5:9) aitios: that which is the cause of anything resides, causative, causing;source

Summary

The Father planned everything and the Son concurred willingly (not forced) with the strategic plan and executed his Father’s will. This occurred even before creation of “invisible and visible things”. The promise of the Father to Jesus from the very beginning (because of the “faith of Jesus”) has come true, viz., 

1. Jesus’ death, as a consequence of Adam’s sin, would  be imputed as mankind’s death to reconcile mankind to the Father. 

2. That Jesus, as promised, would be resurrected by the Father and rewarded for his “works” to receive the Holy Spirit for us.

3. That the Holy Spirit of Christ will imbue or in-dwell in us, being a template or temporary temple (as it did first and foremost into “man-Christ Jesus” at river Jordan) to seal us and sanctify us, so all of us will be “one” with the Father(yet many) through his Son,…us being the “body of Christ”. 

4. That as the “spirit-of-man is willing but the flesh is weak” it needs the Holy Spirit of Christ “written in the fleshy tables of our heart” for all of us to be empowered to follow the Law of Love which summarized the Ten Commandments ,”written in tables of stones”.

He will show us the “way, truth (towards eternal) life“. As he did by example, so shall we, but only with his help as a “Comforter/Advocate/Helper”. At their own time and dispensation, those predestinated, called, eyes/ears spiritually opened and who have faith in Christ and bear “fruits of Holy Spirit/works” will reign with Jesus in the Millenium and in the “new heaven and earth” with the Father.

God bless👍😇🙏

Hyperlink version posted: 3/7/2019

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Original post: May 16, 2015