alpha and omega

alpha and omega
1. the beginning and the end. Rev. 1:8.
2. the basic or essential element or elements: the alpha and omega of political reform.

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      in Christianity, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, 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. The reference in Revelation likely had a Jewish origin, based on such Old Testament passages as Isa. 44:6 (“I am the first and the last”), and Ps. 90:2 (“from everlasting to everlasting thou art God”). In rabbinic literature, the word emet (“truth”), composed of the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, is “the seal of God,” and in Judaic tradition it carries somewhat the same connotation as Alpha and Omega.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Alpha and Omega — • Includes Jewish and Christian meanings Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Alpha and Omega     Alpha and Omega     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Alpha and omega — Alpha Omega est un groupe de dub underground anglais qui se forme un peu avant 1990. Le premier album complet réalisé par le groupe, Daniel in the Lion s Den, sort en 1990. Le son d Alpha Omega, inspiré par la culture jamaicaine et le dub UK, est …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Alpha and Omega — omega o*me ga ([=o]*m[=e] g[.a] or [=o]*m[=a] g[.a] or [=o] m[ e]*g[.a]; 277), n. [NL., fr. Gr. w^ me ga, i.e., the great or long o. Cf. {Mickle}.] 1. The last letter of the Greek alphabet. See {Alpha}. [1913 Webster] 2. The last; the end; hence …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • alpha and omega — ► alpha and omega the beginning and the end. Main Entry: ↑alpha …   English terms dictionary

  • alpha and omega — n. 1. the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet 2. the beginning and the end: cf. Rev. 1:8 …   English World dictionary

  • Alpha and Omega — The term Alpha and Omega comes from the phrase I am the alpha and the omega ( gr. τὸ Α καὶ τὸ Ω), an appellation of God in the Book of Revelation (verses 1:8, 21:6, and 22:13). Its meaning is found in the fact that Alpha (Α) and Omega (Ω) are… …   Wikipedia

  • alpha and omega — noun 1. the first and last; signifies God s eternity • Hypernyms: ↑eternity, ↑infinity 2. the basic meaning of something; the crucial part • Hypernyms: ↑crux, ↑crux of the matter * * * noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • alpha and omega — noun a) The first and last; the beginning and end. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end saith the Lord, ... b) The first and last letters in the Greek alphabet, quotation …   Wiktionary

  • Alpha and Omega —    The first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. They are used of our Lord to set forth His eternal and divine Nature, as in Revelation I:II, I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. In their Greek form these letters are used in the… …   American Church Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  • alpha and omega — noun Etymology: from the fact that alpha and omega are respectively the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet Date: 1526 1. the beginning and ending 2. the principal element …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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