I've got out my Greek Bible(United Bible Societies publishers, edited by Kurt Aland, Matthew Black, Carlo Martini, Bruce Metzger, and Allen Wikgren), and I find that much that you write about as being in the KJV or other translations, the comments of (unnamed) scholars, just isn't supported by the text in front of me.
Revelation 1:8
I am the Alpha and the O·mega, says Jehovah God, the One who is and who was and who is coming, the Almighty.
The actual line is: εγω ειμι το αλφα και το ω λεγει
κυριος ο θεος ο ων και ο ην και ο ερχομενος ο παντοκρατωρ
kurios is Lord, not Jehovah. Any translation that inserts Jehovah here ought to be suspect from the beginning.
To whom does this title properly belong?
1) At Revelation 1:8, its owner is said to be God, the Almighty. In verse 11 according to KJ, that title is applied to one whose description thereafter shows him to be Jesus Christ. But scholars recognize the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 11 to be spurious, and so it does not appear in RS, NE, JB, NAB, Dy.
Again, looking at the actual text, and looking at a critical apparatus for the passage, what one actually sees is that with regard to 1:8 the Textus Receptus (following Sinaticus and twenty other miniscules) had both the reference to the Alpha and the Omega and adds "the beginning and the end". Indeed that added portion is considered by scholars (namely those I cited above) to be a later variant as a result of a copyist's expanding the text (probably prompted by 21:6). None of the commentaries I have, such as Interpreters and the Expositor's Bible Commentary (both well respected in academic circles) mention any problems with this portion of the text. Further, it must be emphasized that all extant copies INCLUDE the portion about the Alpha and the Omega. That part is NOT spurious; it is original.
As for your references to Alpha and Omega not being in verse 1:11, I never said anything about 1:11 in my entire post. Your comment is entirely irrelevant to what I was showing you.
2) Many translations of Revelation into Hebrew recognize that the one described in verse 8 is Jehovah, and so they restore the personal name of God there.
How many translations are there of Revelation into Hebrew? Incredibly few I would guess. And what bearing do they have on the discussion? The translation of Revelation into Hebrew is no more meaningful than it's translation into German, Russian, or Pig Latin. Plus, as Jehovah is not a Hebrew word, any Hebrew version that translate a Greek word that is clearly
kurios into a an English word (for that is what Jehovah is) for inclusion in a Hebrew Bible, again must be seriously suspect. There are perfectly good Hebrew words for
kurios, most notably
adon or
adonay, and neither of these are the personal name of God.
3) Revelation 21:6, 7 indicates that Christians who are spiritual conquerors are to be sons of the one known as the Alpha and the Omega. That is never said of the relationship of spirit-anointed Christians to Jesus Christ. Jesus spoke of them as his brothers. (Heb. 2:11; Matt. 12:50; 25:40) But those brothers of Jesus are referred to as sons of God. (Gal. 3:26; 4:6)
Unless of course, as I would submit, that the Father and the Son are one, just as Jesus stated in John 10:30 and John 17:11, then it would make perfect sense to speak this way for speaking of Jesus is speaking of God.
4) At Revelation 22:12, TEV inserts the name Jesus, so the reference to Alpha and Omega in verse 13 is made to appear to apply to him. But the name Jesus does not appear there in Greek, and other translations do not include it.
What does 22:12 have to do with the price of tea in China? I never referenced it. Nor do I care one wit what the TEV says, I was reading from the NIV when pointing verses out to you. The important thing in 22:13 is to note that the one given the title "First and Last" is also the one to whom the title "Alpha and Omega" is given.
5) At Revelation 22:13, the Alpha and Omega is also said to be the first and the last, which expression is applied to Jesus at Revelation 1:17, 18. Similarly, the expression apostle is applied both to Jesus Christ and to certain ones of his followers. But that does not prove that they are the same person or are of equal rank, does it? (Heb. 3:1) So the evidence points to the conclusion that the title Alpha and Omega applies to Almighty God, the Father, not to the Son.
So, are you suggesting that the titles "the First and Last" and "the Alpha and Omega" apply to
both God the Father and to the Son? Clearly Jesus is called that title in Revelation 22 (and I believe it is just as clear he is called that title in Revelation 1). That would then mean at least conceding that Jesus is from before the beginning of the world till after its conclusion. As far as the passage from Hebrews, the general meaning of
apostlos is one who is sent with a message, this certainly can apply to many people and in the context of the discussion in Hebrews is perfectly appropriate to Jesus. And while some designations such as apostle can therefore be applied to Jesus in one since and to Peter or James or even a bike messenger in other situations, some titles cannot be shared. The term "the First and the Last" strikes me as one of them, especially with the use of the definite article. With the definite article there is one specific one that fits the description. None of the other apostles are apostles (messengers) whom we confess, only Christ is -- hence the definite article in Hebrews 3:1. And likewise there is only one who is "the First and the Last" in Revelation 22:13. That one is also "the Alpha and the Omega". But again you see the definite article meaning that there is only one. And when we check out who that one is, well, we are told in Revelation 1:17-18 that that one is the Living One who was dead and behold is alive for ever and even (i.e. none other than Jesus) and then at the same time told in Revelation 1:8 that that one is the Lord God, who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Hence Jesus is the Almighty.
Like I already said: That's about as clear as it can get, unless of course you have your mind closed and desire to make it into something else because your theology is set on something else regardless what the scriptures themselves say.
