Alpha and Omega - wikipedia Alpha and Omega For other uses, see Alpha and Omega ( disambiguation ). The Greek letters alpha and omega 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 are used as Christian symbols, and are often combined with the Cross, Chi - rho, or other Christian symbols. Contents 1 Origin 2 Christianity 3 Judaism 4 Islam 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Origin The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase `` I am the alpha and the omega '' ( Koiné Greek : `` ἐγὼ τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω '' ), an appellation of Jesus in the Book of Revelation ( verses 1 : 8, 21 : 6, and 22 : 13 ). The first part of this phrase ( `` I am the Alpha and Omega '' ) is first found in Chapter 1 verse 8 ( `` 1v8 '' ), and is found in every manuscript of Revelation that has 1v8. Several later manuscripts repeat `` I am the Alpha and Omega '' in 1v11 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 Omega '' in 1v11, the `` oldest ( manuscripts ) omit '' it. Christianity alpha ( Α ) and omega ( Ω ) are the first and last letters, respectively, of the classical ( Ionic ) Greek alphabet. Thus, twice when the phrase `` I am the alpha and the omega '' appears it is further clarified with the additional phrase, `` the beginning and the end '' ( 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. Though many commentators and dictionaries ascribe the title `` the alpha and the omega '' to both God and to Christ, some secular sources argue otherwise. Barnes ' Notes on the New Testament ( 1974 ) claims : `` It can not 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. '' Most Christian denominations also teach that the title applies to both Jesus and his Father. The letters Alpha and Omega in juxtaposition are often used as a Christian visual symbol ( see examples ). 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 crux gemmata, 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. The Chi - rho symbol with Alpha and Omega, Catacombs of Domitilla, Rome The Greek letters alpha and omega surround the halo of Jesus in the catacombs of Rome from the 4th century `` ΑΩ '' in stained glass Arms with Alpha and Omega Judaism In Rabbinic literature, the word emet ( אמת meaning `` truth '' ), one of the names of God in Judaism, has been interpreted as consisting of the first, middle, and final letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Islam The Qur'an gives al'Awwal ( الأول ), meaning `` The First '' and al'Akhir ( الآخر ), meaning `` The Last '' as two of the names of God : 57 : 3. See also Alpha and Omega ( disambiguation ) Attributes of God in Christianity Chi Rho Christian symbolism Everything Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament Names of God in Judaism References Jump up ^ Gauding, Madonna ( 2009 ). The signs and symbols bible : the definitive guide to mysterious markings. New York, NY : Sterling Pub. Co. p. 84. ISBN 9781402770043. Jump up ^ `` Revelation Red ''. CCEL.org. Jump up ^ Young, Robert ( 1977 ). Young 's Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible. p. 180. Jump up ^ The New Bible Dictionary, edited by Alton Bryant ; Bible Dictionary by Wm. Smith ; and the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Jump up ^ Notes on the New Testament, Explanatory and Practical by Albert Barnes. 1956, 1962, 1974. ISBN 978 - 0825422003 External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Alpha Omega. Hassett, Maurice M. ( 1907 ). `` A and Ω ''. In Herbermann, Charles. Catholic Encyclopedia. 1. New York : Robert Appleton Company. `` Alpha and Omega ( in Scripture ) '' in the Catholic Encyclopedia at newadvent.org `` Alpha and Omega '' at the Jewish Encyclopedia Yahwistic titles of Jesus in Greek Yahwistic titles of Jesus in Greek Theos ( God ) Kyrios ( Lord ) Pantokrator ( Almighty ) Poimen ( Shepherd ) Alpha and Omega ( First and Last ) Soter ( Savior ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alpha_and_Omega&oldid=827926047 '' Categories : Biblical phrases Book of Revelation Christian eschatology Christian symbols Christian terminology Greek words and phrases Heraldic charges Names of God in Christianity New Testament words and phrases Superlatives in religion Hidden categories : All articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases Articles with specifically marked weasel - worded phrases from January 2016 Articles incorporating a citation from the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia with Wikisource reference Talk Contents About Wikipedia Беларуская Беларуская ( тарашкевіца ) ‎ Български Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית Kiswahili Kreyòl ayisyen Latina Magyar Македонски Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan Polski Português Română Русский Suomi Svenska தமிழ் Українська اردو 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 27 February 2018, at 15 : 32. 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Question: meaning of i am the alpha and omega
Answer: the beginning and the end