Greek is the language of the New Testament. An expression like “Alpha and Omega”, letters from the Greek alphabet, is therefore found only in the New Testament, whose language is Greek. In the book of Revelation, right in the first chapter, reads the following verse:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 1:8

This passage was mentioned to me the other day as an argument for a trinity. Now it may strike every unsophisticated reader that a “Trinity” is mentioned here with no word. This expression does not exist here, in context, or elsewhere in the Bible. Everything sounds comprehensive and “for an unknown reason Jesus is also in here” and therefore it is to be concluded blithely that Jesus is described here with divine omnipotence. So much for the argument that one can read again and again in relation to this text.

Not only is an expression like “Trinity” missing here, but the very thing you project onto this verse is not there. Nowhere is there any mention of a unity of essence between God and Jesus. You will not be equated here. It is a misleading implication. Because such things are mentioned here with no word, I can make no exegesis to the assumed meaning. I can only conclude that the text gives no clue to the assumed meaning. What happens is this: Inferences are stacked on top of inferences here, until you are far away from the original text. The central point is then no longer the text, but the conclusions about the text.

It seems much more interesting to me not to infer, but to interpret the text in its own context. That’s what I’m trying to do in this post.

I am the Alpha and the Omega

The verse says it very clearly: this concerns God Himself. It is not said of Jesus, or of a Holy Spirit. This is God Himself. This is always clear from the biblical description, as Paul puts it elsewhere:

“We know that an idol is nothing in the world and. there is no other God but the One. For although there are so-called gods (whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many gods and many lords), nevertheless for us only One God, the Father, from whom the All is (and we are turned to Him), and only One Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom the All has become (and we are through Him).”
1Cor 8,5-6

The one God is unmistakably the Father. In addition to this it is mentioned, “from which the universe is”. This is exactly what is also described in the book of Revelation. God, that is the One from whom everything is and to whom everything is. He is the beginning and the end. He is Alpha and Omega.

But let’s get into the text a few verses earlier:

“John to the seven called out church, which are in the province of Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come.”
Rev 1:4

This is the statement that is repeated a few verses further on:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Rev 1:8

The expression “Alpha and Omega” seems to be primarily an embellishment of this statement. That is why we are talking about God the Father here, not Jesus Christ. Confusion is caused at most by the addition of “Lord”, which is regularly associated with Jesus in the New Testament. This connection is indeed there, only one must not conclude from it that it is about Jesus here. “Lord” is not a proper name, but a designation. This designation is not exclusive to Jesus. That’s why you have to ask here.

Furthermore, the expression “Alpha and Omega” occurs twice more in the New Testament, also in the book of Revelation. In total, therefore, three biblical passages: Rev 1:8; Rev 21:6; Rev 22:13. At this point we are talking about the first occurrence.

The Lord

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God.
Rev 1:8

The Lord God – that is the expression. Lord is not a proper name, but a designation and a reference to an Old Testament term. So we read in something in the first book of Moses:

“This is the history of the origin of heaven and earth when they were created. In the day when the LORD God made earth and heaven.”
Gen 2:4 (Elberfelder)

The spelling LORD, with capital letters, here is a reference to the name of God (YHWH), which is God (Elohim). In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Tenach (Old Testament), the name of God was not used out of reverence, but written “Lord” instead. Identical happens also here in Rev 1,8. One cannot conclude that “Lord” is written here and therefore Jesus is meant.

The name of God

The name of God YHWH is here not only described by the term “Lord” (as it was done in the Septuagint and what is taken over in many translations until today, as was just shown before by the quoted Elberfelder translation for Gen 2,4). This YHWH is God. And God is

“that one
and that one was
and that one is coming”
Rev 1:8

It is a compilation of the present, past and future. This is also anchored in the books of Moses and refers to a conversation between Moses and God:

But Moses answered God, “Behold, when I come to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What shall I say to them? Then God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” Then he said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ⟨The⟩ “I am” has sent me to you. And God said further to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, Yahweh[JHWH], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name for eternity, and this is my naming from generation to generation.
Ex 3:13-15

At this point, God announces His name as “I am who I am.” The name of God echoes the verb “to be” in various tenses. The Concordant Old Testament translates here as follows:

Then Elohim said to Moses: “I will be there for them, as I am there for them now. And He added, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘The “I Am” has sent me to you.'”
Ex 3:14 Concordant Old Testament

God’s name is “YHWH”. Its function is “Elohim”. His name “YHWH” expresses His activity in time, while The function “Elohim” places God in relation to space, as it is said in the first book of Moses: “In a beginning: created Elohim, the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1). The combination speaks of The One who holds space and time in His hands.

Back to the book of Revelation. Here the writer refers to thoughts taken directly from the Tenach (the Old Testament). There is talk of the One God.

Jesus and God

This post is about reading the text as best you can in your own context. In this context, both God and Jesus are mentioned. Mixing the texts may lead to the assumption that Jesus is now suddenly also God. Let’s look carefully at the context again, because different things are said about God and about Jesus. These are complementary, with different functions.

John to the seven called out churches that were in the province of Asia: Grace to you and peace

1. 1. 1. from the one who is there and who was there and who is coming,
         and of the seven spirits who are in view of His throne,
      2. and of Jesus Christ;
         He is the faithful witness
         the firstborn of the dead
         and the prince of the kings of the earth.

In these first verses (Rev 1:4-5) we see God and Jesus Christ, both named. Supplementary details are mentioned for each, explaining its particular position and function. God sits on the throne, spirits are around Him. God is the One who is referred to by the description of the name YHWH. After that, it talks about Jesus Christ, who is called the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. There are clear differences here. They are not put on an equal footing.

John continues to write about Jesus Christ:

To Him who loves us and redeems us from our sins with His blood and makes us a kingdom and priests to His God and Father, to Him be the glory and the power for the eons of the eons! Amen! Behold, He comes with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even they that pierced Him; and all the tribes of the land shall mourn because of Him. Yes, Amen!
Rev 1:5-6

Here, too, Jesus Christ stands in clear distinction to His God and Father. It should also be noted here right away that John speaks of Jesus having one God and Father – as is mentioned in many other places in the New Testament. So no mixing here either, and a clear distinction. Jesus is not equal to the Godhead, but has a God and Father.

Now with the praise and the twofold “Amen!” the statement about Jesus Christ is completed. A new section begins, now addressed to the only God:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Rev 1:8

It is this verse that we have just looked at in more detail. John talks about himself in the next verse. It is all preparation for the actual message. He makes it clear to the reader what he will be dealing with in this book, what statements will be made by whom, and who is in charge here. So this is not at all about teaching how God is “put together”, but just listing what the reader is dealing with.

Summary

Are these verses about the Trinity? No, that should be clear now. Is it perhaps just a matter of Jesus being equal to God? On the contrary, Jesus also has a God and Father, who is clearly mentioned by John here. Jesus is not Alpha and Omega, but God the Father is Alpha and Omega, is first and last. He is the origin and perfector. For this, we read at the end of the book of Revelation:

Then He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new!” and to me He said, “Write, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Further He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, The Origin and the Completion. I will give the thirsty one free drink from the fountain of the water of life.”
Rev 21:5-6