The Names of Jesus - Elmer Towns

story line. And when the book is completed, it contains a part of the author, an investment of a
part of his life.
When we speak of Jesus as “the Author of Eternal Salvation,” this illustration is accurate
only in part. Jesus is not merely the formal cause of salvation, He is the efficacious and active
cause of it. Not only is salvation caused or effected by Christ, but He is Salvation itself (Luke
2:30; 3:6). Although an author may invest a part of himself in his book, we cannot say the book
is the author. But Jesus is that of which He is the author. When the Scriptures reveal Him as the
“Author of Eternal Salvation,” it emphasizes not only His ability to save but also His power to
keep.
Closely related to this title of Christ are several titles which make use of the Greek word
archegos, translated in Scripture as “prince,” “author,” and “captain.” This is the key word in the
titles “Prince of life” (Acts 3:15), “a Prince and a Saviour” (Acts 5:31), “the captain of their
salvation” (Hebrews 2:10), and “the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). The term
signifies one who takes the lead in something or provides the first occasion of anything. In his
English translation of the Scriptures, Moffat consistently translates this word “pioneer. “
Although translated “author” once in the New Testament, the word really stresses quality of
leadership; it does not necessarily mean that the cause originated with the leader. This is, of
course, true of Christ as noted in the above title but not implied in the use of this related Greek
word. The emphasis here is that of His primacy. As the aitios, He originates and provides eternal
salvation for all who will come to Him. As the archegos, He leads us into that eternal salvation.
In this way He is the Captain of Salvation, the Prince of Life, and the Pioneer (Author) of our
Faith.
MEDIATOR
Jesus is also called the “mediator” by the Apostle Paul (I Timothy 2:5; cf. also Hebrews
8:6; 9:15; 12:24). In the first century this was both a legal and commercial term. It differs from
Christ's title as our “Advocate” in that the “Mediator” is impartial; He represents both parties
equally. Only Jesus could be the mediator between God and man because only He is both God
and man. The Greek word mesites literally means “a go-between” and is used in two ways in the
New Testament. First, Jesus is the Mediator in that He mediates between God and man to effect
a reconciliation (I Timothy 2:5). Secondly, He is the mediator of a better covenant (Hebrews
8:6), the new testament (Hebrews 9:15), and the new covenant (Hebrews 12:24) in the sense that
He acts as a guarantor so as to secure that which would otherwise be unobtainable.
CONCLUSION
No wonder the hymn writer exclaimed, “I will sing of my Redeemer”! The more we
understand what the Bible describes as “so great salvation,” the more we appreciate the
salvational names of Jesus. Some of them speak of His work in saving us. He is “the Redeemer,”
“Saviour,” and “Mediator.” Others speak of His Person in saving us. He is “the Lamb of God”
and “the Propitiation for Our Sins.” Still others mysteriously reveal the One who both produces
and is our salvation. He is “the Last Adam,” “the Second Man,” and “the Author of Eternal
Salvation. “ All of our questions concerning our salvation are answered in His names.