Revelation 1:8
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Study Note
Study Note
The divine self-declaration 'I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty' applies the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet to God's comprehensive self-description as origin, sustainer, and goal of all existence. The triple temporal formula ('which is, and which was, and which is to come') is a theological expansion of the divine name Yahweh (ehyeh asher ehyeh, I AM who I AM, Exodus 3:14), translated into Greek philosophical categories of eternal present. The title 'Almighty' (pantokratōr) is the LXX rendering of 'Lord of Hosts' (Yahweh Sabaoth), the commanding military title of the God of Israel. That this formula is applied to Christ in Revelation 1:17 and 22:13 ('I am the Alpha and Omega') represents one of the New Testament's most explicit identifications of Jesus with the divine Name.
Other Translations
I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
`I am the Alpha and the Omega, beginning and end, saith the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is coming--the Almighty.'
I am the First and the Last, says the Lord God who is and was and is to come, the Ruler of all.
Cross References
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his …
Who hath wrought and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I the Lord, the first, and with the …
Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe …
Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and …
Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the …
John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and …
Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and …
And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, …
And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was …
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and …