Names and Titles of Jesus

Jesus, the Alpha and Omega

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, like saying ‘A to Z.’ When Jesus says ‘I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last’ (Revelation 22:13), he claims to encompass all of history: he was there at the start, he holds the end, and everything in between belongs to him.

What the Bible says

What it reveals

In Revelation this title is spoken by God the Almighty, and also by the risen Jesus, one more quiet witness that Jesus shares the identity of God. To be the Alpha and the Omega is to stand outside of time and hold it: the one who began the story is the one who will finish it. History is not a random drift; it is held, from first letter to last, by Christ.

What it means for you

Your life has a beginning you did not choose and an end you cannot control, and so much in between feels uncertain. This name says the same person stands at both ends and everywhere between. The one who was there before you were born is waiting at the finish, and he is good. You can trust the story to its Author.

Frequently asked questions

What does 'Alpha and Omega' mean?

Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. When Jesus calls himself the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13), he means he is the first and the last, the beginning and the end, encompassing all of time and history.

Why is Jesus called the Alpha and Omega?

Because he shares the eternal identity of God. In Revelation the title belongs to 'the Almighty' (1:8) and is spoken by the risen Christ (22:13), affirming that Jesus was there at the beginning and holds the end.