Tau
Alpha and Omega
Alpha and Omega
Also seen as AΩ and αω.
Overview
Alpha (Α or α) and omega (Ω or ω) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and a title of Christ and God in the Book of Revelation.
This pair of letters is used as a Christian symbol,[1] and is often combined with the Cross, Chi Rho or other Christian symbols. A (a) and Z (z) share the similarity with alpha and omega, along with a (А or а) and ya (Я or я).
Not to be confused with Alpha et Omega, an occult order, initially named the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which has a separate article for it.
Origin and Meaning
The first written record of the phrase “alpha and omega” is from some old manuscripts of the Christian New Testament.
The phrase “I am the Alpha and the Omega” (Koiné Greek: “ἐγώ εἰμί τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ”), is an appellation of Jesus and of the Father in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13).[2] The first part of this phrase (“I am the Alpha and the Omega”) is first found in Chapter 1 verse 8 (“1:8”), and is found in every manuscript of Revelation that has 1:8.
Several later manuscripts repeat “I am the Alpha and the Omega” in 1:11 too, but do not receive support here from most of the oldest manuscripts, including the Alexandrine, Sinaitic, and Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus.
It is, therefore, omitted in some modern translations. Scholar Robert Young stated, with regard to “I am the Alpha and the Omega” in 1:11, the “oldest [manuscripts] omit” it.[3]
A similar reference is in Isaiah 44,[4][5] where God says to be the first and the one who is after all.
Alpha (Α) and omega (Ω) are the first and last letters, respectively, of the classical (Ionic) Greek alphabet. Thus, the phrase “I am the alpha and the omega” is further clarified with the additional phrase, “the beginning and the end” in Revelation 21:6, 22:13.
The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet were used because the book of Revelation is in the New Testament, which was originally written in Greek.
This phrase is interpreted by many Christians to mean that Jesus has existed for all eternity or that God is eternal. Many commentators and dictionaries ascribe the title “the alpha and the omega” to both God and to Christ.[6]
Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament (1974) claims: “It cannot be absolutely certain that the writer meant to refer to the Lord Jesus specifically here … There is no real incongruity in supposing, also, that the writer here meant to refer to God as such.”[7]
Most Christian denominations also teach that the title applies to God (Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit).
The letters Alpha and Omega, in juxtaposition (side by side), are often used as a Christian visual symbol. It is also common to see the two letters appear interlaced, as in the symbol used at the beginning of this article.
The symbols were used in early Christianity and appear in the Roman catacombs.
The letters were shown hanging from the arms of the cross in Early Christian art, and some cruces gemmatae, jeweled crosses in precious metal, have formed letters hanging in this way, called pendilia; for example, in the Asturian coat of arms, which is based upon the Asturian Victory Cross.
In fact, despite always being in Greek, the letters became more common in Western than Eastern Orthodox Christian art. They are often shown to the left and right of Christ’s head, sometimes within his halo, where they take the place of the Christogram used in Orthodox art.
Linguistic Curiosities
In Hebrew, the word emet (אמת, meaning “truth”), is referred to as the “Seal of God.”[8][9][10] [Cf. Isaiah 44:6[11]] The word is composed of the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
The Qur’an gives al-ʾAwwal (ٱلْأَوَّل), meaning “The First” and al-ʾĀkhir (ٱلْآخِر), meaning “The Last” as two of the names of God (Quran 57:3).[12]
Conclusion
The beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, hold a symbolic meaning in Christianity.
Used to designate the comprehensiveness of God, implying that God includes all that can be. In the New Testament Revelation to John, the term is used as the self-designation of God and of Christ.
References
[1] Gauding, Madonna (2009). The Signs and Symbols Bible: The Definitive Guide to Mysterious Markings. New York, NY: Sterling Pub. Co. p. 84. ISBN 9781402770043.
[2] At this time, the Greek name of the letter was still "Ô" (Ὦ), which is found in the earliest Greek manuscripts; the later name "omega" (Ὦ μέγα) is found in many later Greek manuscripts. See Allen, W. Sidney (1987) [1968]. Vox Graeca (third ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-521-33367-2.
[3] Young, Robert (1977). Young's Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible. p. 180.
[4] Isaiah 44:6–8
[5] Interlinear Greek English Septuagint Old Testament (LXX) (in Ancient Greek and English). p. 2432.
[6] The New Bible Dictionary, edited by Alton Bryant; Bible Dictionary by Wm. Smith; and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
[7] Notes on the New Testament, Explanatory and Practical by Albert Barnes. 1956, 1962, 1974. ISBN 978-0825422003
[8] "Yoma 69b:7-8". www.sefaria.org.
[9] "Shabbat 55a:12". www.sefaria.org.
[10] "Bereishit Rabbah 81:2". www.sefaria.org.
[11] "Isaiah 44:6". www.sefaria.org.
[12] Quran 57:3
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