The Captain of Our Salvation

The phrase “the Captain of our salvation” is one of many titles for Jesus Christ and emphasizes His role in leading believers to salvation. This title is used in Hebrews 2:10. Before we get to this verse, we need to look at the Greek word for this title.

The Greek word for Christ’s title in Hebrews is “archēgon.” This word’s meanings include originator, author, founder, prince, leader, and, as translated in the King James Version, “Captain.”

When we consider all of the derivations from this Greek word, it is clear that Jesus fulfills all of them. Now, here is the verse.

For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 2:10 NKJV

Captain of Our Salvation

At this point, we may think, “cool,” Jesus is the Captain of our Salvation. This is true, but let’s not stop there since there is more in this tiny verse we can learn to strengthen us as followers of Christ Jesus.

This title for our Savior shows us that He has authority. Jesus has the power and right to command all matters of salvation. His title tells us that Father God bestowed a greater commission on Him before He gave us the great commission¹. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus says, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.”

Commissioned as “Captain of our salvation,” Jesus provides His Church supreme leadership. He leads believers on the path to salvation, guiding them through spiritual battles. He fulfills His role as the Pioneer as He blazes the salvation trail, overcoming death and securing eternal life for those who follow Him.

The Theology of Christ’s Title

The concept of Jesus as the Captain of our salvation underscores some important theological points:

1. Salvation is only through Christ: It reinforces the truth that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.
2. Christ’s suffering: The passage notes that the Captain was made “perfect through suffering,” highlighting the redemptive nature of Christ’s death on the cross. Our salvation is the fruit of His suffering and death. By the way, Jesus’ resurrection secured our resurrection from death. He is “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep².”
3. Divine plan: The verse shows us that our salvation is part of a purposeful, divinely orchestrated mission led by Jesus.

This picture of Jesus as the Captain resonates with other biblical imagery, such as the Church being described as an army engaged in spiritual warfare³, with Christ as its supreme commander.

No matter how deep we dig into God’s Word, there is always so much more!

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Footnotes

1. Matthew 28:18 – The Great Commission. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/matthew/28-18.htm ↩︎
2. 1 Corinthians 15:20 – The Order of Resurrection. (n.d.). Bible Hub. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/15-20.htm ↩︎
3. Ephesians 6:10-18 – New Living Translation. (n.d.). Bible Gateway. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%206%3A10-18&version=NLT ↩︎