Verse 8: What does Alpha and Omega mean? Is it the same as beginning and ending? Is this verse implying that God had a beginning?
What does Alpha and Omega mean?
Fri, 2009-02-06 21:00
#1
What does Alpha and Omega mean?
Fri, 2009-03-27 22:27
#2
Alpha and Omega are the
Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. In Isaiah 41:4, God declares that his is the first and with the last. I think Alpha and Omega is just another way to say He is the first and last.
Then of course in Revelation 1:11 Jesus says, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last."
What does it mean to be first and last? It sounds like God is saying he is bigger and more powerful than anyone or anything else. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about how God will put down all rule, authority, and power:
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
Clearly God is bigger. As to whether this is the exact meaning of the phrase "Alpha and Omega?" I don't know.
On interesting question that could be raised by these statemnts: Does God have a beginning and an end? I don't think that is what these verses are saying; but it does say that God is the beginning and end.