FAIR is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing well-documented answers to criticisms of the doctrine, practice, and history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Difference between revisions of "Question: What does it mean to Mormons when Jesus is declared to be the "alpha and omega"?"
m (robot Adding: fr:Jesus Christ/Alpha and Omega) |
GregSmithBot (talk | contribs) m (Robot: Automated text replacement (-Source(s) of the criticism +{{Criticism source label English}}, -Source(s) of the Criticism +{{Criticism source label English}}, -==Criticism== +=={{Criticism label}}==, -==Response== +=={{Response label}}==, -==Qu) |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
{{question}} | {{question}} | ||
| − | ==Question== | + | =={{Question label}}== |
Can you tell me how people think that the Alpha and Omega proves the concept of the Trinity? Can you explain more about what Alpha and Omega means, beside the beginning and the end, referring to the Savior? What does it mean to the restored church? | Can you tell me how people think that the Alpha and Omega proves the concept of the Trinity? Can you explain more about what Alpha and Omega means, beside the beginning and the end, referring to the Savior? What does it mean to the restored church? | ||
{{CriticalSources}} | {{CriticalSources}} | ||
| − | ==Answer== | + | =={{Answer label}}== |
Alpha and Omega ('''Α Ω''') are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively. Jesus Christ refers to himself by this title four times in the book of Revelation ([http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/1/8#8 1:8]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/1/11#11 1:11]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/21/6#6 21:6]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/22/13#13 22:13]). The title also appears in the Book of Mormon once ([http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/9/18#18 3 Nephi 9:18]) and the Doctrine and Covenants thirteen times ([http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/19/1#1 19:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/35/1#1 35:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/38/1#1 38:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/45/7#7 45:7]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/54/1#1 54:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/61/1#1 61:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/63/60#60 63:60]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/68/35#35 68:35]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/75/1#1 75:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/81/7#7 81:7]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/84/120#120 84:120]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/112/34#34 112:34]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/66#66 132:66]). | Alpha and Omega ('''Α Ω''') are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively. Jesus Christ refers to himself by this title four times in the book of Revelation ([http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/1/8#8 1:8]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/1/11#11 1:11]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/21/6#6 21:6]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/rev/22/13#13 22:13]). The title also appears in the Book of Mormon once ([http://scriptures.lds.org/3_ne/9/18#18 3 Nephi 9:18]) and the Doctrine and Covenants thirteen times ([http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/19/1#1 19:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/35/1#1 35:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/38/1#1 38:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/45/7#7 45:7]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/54/1#1 54:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/61/1#1 61:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/63/60#60 63:60]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/68/35#35 68:35]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/75/1#1 75:1]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/81/7#7 81:7]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/84/120#120 84:120]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/112/34#34 112:34]; [http://scriptures.lds.org/dc/132/66#66 132:66]). | ||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
Latter-day Saints reject the interpretive baggage of the Greeks and Reformers, and claim that Christ is eternal, but not in the sense that the philosophers explain it. | Latter-day Saints reject the interpretive baggage of the Greeks and Reformers, and claim that Christ is eternal, but not in the sense that the philosophers explain it. | ||
| − | ==Further reading== | + | =={{Further reading label}}== |
| − | ===FAIR wiki articles=== | + | ==={{FAIR wiki articles label}}=== |
{{JesusWiki}} | {{JesusWiki}} | ||
| − | ===FAIR web site=== | + | ==={{FAIR web site label}}=== |
| − | <!--*FAIR | + | <!--*{{FAIR topical guide label}} |
--> | --> | ||
| − | ===External links=== | + | ==={{External links label}}=== |
*[http://scriptures.lds.org/bda/alpha "Alpha"], LDS Bible Dictionary. | *[http://scriptures.lds.org/bda/alpha "Alpha"], LDS Bible Dictionary. | ||
*[http://scriptures.lds.org/gsa/alphndmg "Alpha and Omega"], LDS Guide to the Scriptures. | *[http://scriptures.lds.org/gsa/alphndmg "Alpha and Omega"], LDS Guide to the Scriptures. | ||
*Stephen E. Robinson, [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/christ/names_eom.htm "Jesus Christ, Names and Titles of"], ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' 2:740–42. | *Stephen E. Robinson, [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/christ/names_eom.htm "Jesus Christ, Names and Titles of"], ''Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' 2:740–42. | ||
| − | ===Printed material=== | + | ==={{Printed material label}}=== |
*Blake Ostler, ''Exploring Mormon Thought: The Attributes of God'' (Draper, Utah: Greg Kofford Books, 2001), 523 pages; ISBN 1589580036. (Available at the [http://www.fair-lds.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GK-1589580036&Category_Code=&Search=ostler&Offset=&filter_cat=&exclude_word=&the_fieldlist=g.SRCH_NAME%7Cg.SRCH_DESC&range_low=&range_high=&dopowersearch=1&SRCH_CATEGORY_HF=&PowerSearch_Begin_Only= FAIR Bookstore].) | *Blake Ostler, ''Exploring Mormon Thought: The Attributes of God'' (Draper, Utah: Greg Kofford Books, 2001), 523 pages; ISBN 1589580036. (Available at the [http://www.fair-lds.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=GK-1589580036&Category_Code=&Search=ostler&Offset=&filter_cat=&exclude_word=&the_fieldlist=g.SRCH_NAME%7Cg.SRCH_DESC&range_low=&range_high=&dopowersearch=1&SRCH_CATEGORY_HF=&PowerSearch_Begin_Only= FAIR Bookstore].) | ||
[[fr:Jesus Christ/Alpha and Omega]] | [[fr:Jesus Christ/Alpha and Omega]] | ||
Revision as of 03:23, 4 May 2010
| Answers portal |
| Jesus Christ |
|
 RESOURCES
|
|---|
 PERSPECTIVES
|
 MEDIA
|
| OTHER PORTALS
|
This page is based on an answer to a question submitted to the FAIR web site, or a frequently asked question.
==Contents
Questions
== Can you tell me how people think that the Alpha and Omega proves the concept of the Trinity? Can you explain more about what Alpha and Omega means, beside the beginning and the end, referring to the Savior? What does it mean to the restored church?
To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, [[../CriticalSources|click here]]
Answer
Alpha and Omega (Α Ω) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, respectively. Jesus Christ refers to himself by this title four times in the book of Revelation (1:8; 1:11; 21:6; 22:13). The title also appears in the Book of Mormon once (3 Nephi 9:18) and the Doctrine and Covenants thirteen times (19:1; 35:1; 38:1; 45:7; 54:1; 61:1; 63:60; 68:35; 75:1; 81:7; 84:120; 112:34; 132:66).
The Encyclopedia of Mormonism explains:
- Equivalent to the Old Testament term "the first and the last" (e.g., Isaiah 44:6), alpha and omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Just as no letters stand before alpha or after omega, so there are no other gods in this creation other than that represented in Jesus Christ. He encompasses all, from beginning to end; he extends beyond all extremities and categories.
Jesus Christ is the beginning because he created the earth; he is the end because he is our advocate with the Father at the final judgment.
When early Christianity—a religion based in Hebrew theology—encountered the Greek philosophical world, Greek-thinking converts tried to harmonize the two worldviews. The Greek worldview came from the writings of philosophers like Plato, who postulated that nothing that is perfect can be physical, and so forth. This collision between Hebrew and Greek paradigms resulted in a redefinition of the Hebrew/Christian God into one acceptable to Greek thinkers. God, according to the philosophers, had to be uncreated, eternal (in the philosophical sense of existing outside of time), and unique (in the sense that he is completely different than human beings).
Modern Christians—who have inherited the Greek worldview as interpreted by the Protestant reformers—use a select set of Bible verses to enforce this interpretation. To them, the "Alpha and Omega" passages in Revelation indicate that Jesus was uncreated and existing from all eternity in a triune form (three persons, but one God).
Latter-day Saints reject the interpretive baggage of the Greeks and Reformers, and claim that Christ is eternal, but not in the sense that the philosophers explain it.
Further reading
FairMormon Answers articles
FairMormon web site
External links
- "Alpha", LDS Bible Dictionary.
- "Alpha and Omega", LDS Guide to the Scriptures.
- Stephen E. Robinson, "Jesus Christ, Names and Titles of", Encyclopedia of Mormonism 2:740–42.
Printed material
- Blake Ostler, Exploring Mormon Thought: The Attributes of God (Draper, Utah: Greg Kofford Books, 2001), 523 pages; ISBN 1589580036. (Available at the FAIR Bookstore.)