Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897)/A (letter)

by Matthew George Easton

For works with similar titles, see A.

A Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as Omega is the last. These letters occur in the text of Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13, and are represented by "Alpha" and "Omega" respectively (omitted in R.V., Revelation 1:11). They mean "the first and last." (Comp. Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; Revelation 1:11,17; 2:8.) In the symbols of the early Christian Church these two letters are frequently combined with the cross or with Christ's monogram to denote his divinity.