Is "The Alpha and the Omega" Attributed Only to God? A Biblical and Historical Refutation of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) Claim that Jesus Is Not God

Introduction

One of the most common arguments raised by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) is that Jesus cannot be God because only the Father is called God.

However, the Book of Revelation contains one of the strongest declarations of Christ's divinity through one extraordinary title:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega."

The real question is:

Can this title belong to anyone besides God?

The biblical evidence gives a clear answer.

No.

Nowhere in Scripture is Alpha and Omega ever used for a prophet, apostle, angel, king, or any ordinary human being.

Instead, it is a uniquely divine title.

Even more remarkable, Revelation applies this same title to Jesus Christ.

---

What Does "Alpha and Omega" Mean?

Alpha (Α) is the first letter of the Greek alphabet.

Omega (Ω) is the last.

Thus,

Alpha and Omega

means

The Beginning and the End

or

The One who encompasses everything from eternity to eternity.

It signifies:

• Eternal existence
• Absolute sovereignty
• Creator of all
• Lord of history
• The One who completes all things

Only God possesses these attributes.

---

Old Testament Background

The phrase originates from Old Testament descriptions of Yahweh.

Isaiah repeatedly records God saying:

"I am the first and I am the last."

Isaiah 41:4

"I, the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he."

Isaiah 44:6

"Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel...

I am the first and I am the last;

besides me there is no God."

Notice the connection.

"I am the First and the Last"

is immediately followed by

"Besides Me there is no God."

This is an exclusive claim of deity.

---

Isaiah 48:12

"I am He;

I am the first,

and I am the last."

Again,

this belongs only to Yahweh.

No human being ever says this.

---

Revelation Applies the Same Divine Language

Revelation 1:8

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

says the Lord God,

who is and who was and who is to come,

the Almighty."

This clearly refers to God.

No debate.

---

Revelation 21:6

Again God says

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the Beginning and the End."

Again,

God Himself.

---

Revelation 22:13

Now comes the crucial text.

Jesus declares:

"I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the First and the Last,

the Beginning and the End."

The INC often argues that this speaker is still the Father.

But the surrounding context proves otherwise.

---

Who Is Speaking in Revelation 22?

Look carefully.

Revelation 22:12

"Behold, I am coming soon."

Who is coming?

Jesus.

---

Revelation 22:16

Just four verses later:

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel..."

The speaker identifies Himself explicitly.

The one speaking throughout this section is

Jesus Christ.

Therefore,

the One saying

"I am Alpha and Omega"

is Jesus.

---

Internal Evidence

The flow is uninterrupted.

Verse 12

"I am coming."

↓

Verse 13

"I am Alpha and Omega."

↓

Verse 16

"I, Jesus..."

The speaker never changes.

---

Jesus Also Calls Himself "The First and the Last"

Another decisive text.

Revelation 1:17-18

Jesus says:

"Fear not,

I am the First and the Last,

and the Living One.

I died,

and behold I am alive forevermore."

Ask:

Who died?

Only Jesus.

Therefore,

Who is

"The First and the Last"?

Jesus.

Yet Isaiah says

only Yahweh is

"the First and the Last."

The conclusion is unavoidable.

Jesus shares Yahweh's divine identity.

---

Greek Study

Alpha

Greek:

Ἄλφα

First letter.

Represents origin.

---

Omega

Greek:

Ὦ

Last letter.

Represents completion.

---

Revelation 22:13 Greek

Ἐγώ εἰμι τὸ Ἄλφα καὶ τὸ Ὦ

"I AM the Alpha and the Omega."

Notice

Ἐγώ εἰμι

"I AM"

echoes God's self-identification (cf. Exodus 3:14 in the Septuagint, where God reveals Himself as "I AM"; John also records Jesus' use of the absolute "I am" sayings, e.g., John 8:58).

This is deliberate.

John presents Jesus with divine language.

---

Can Any Human Be Called Alpha and Omega?

Search the entire Bible.

You will never find:

• Moses
• Abraham
• David
• Elijah
• Peter
• Paul
• John
• Mary
• any prophet

called

Alpha and Omega.

Why?

Because it is God's title.

---

Comparison Table

Person	Called Alpha and Omega?
God the Father	Yes
Jesus Christ	Yes
Holy Spirit	Never explicitly, though fully divine in Trinitarian theology
Moses	No
Abraham	No
David	No
Peter	No
Paul	No
Angels	No
Any human	No

The Bible reserves this title for deity.

---

INC Objection #1

"Only the Father is speaking."

Answer:

Revelation 22:12–16 is one continuous discourse.

Jesus identifies Himself in verse 16.

No textual marker indicates a speaker change between verses 12–15.

Therefore,

verse 13 belongs naturally to Jesus.

---

INC Objection #2

"Jesus merely represents God."

Representation cannot explain why Jesus bears titles that Isaiah reserves exclusively for Yahweh, such as:

• First and Last
• Alpha and Omega
• Beginning and End

Isaiah 44:6 declares:

"Besides Me there is no God."

If Jesus were merely a representative, then attributing Yahweh's exclusive divine titles to Him would blur the very distinction Isaiah insists upon.

---

INC Objection #3

"Jesus received authority from God."

Catholics fully agree that, in His incarnate mission, the Son receives authority from the Father (cf. Matthew 28:18). But receiving authority according to His mission does not negate His divine nature. The New Testament also teaches that the Son shares the Father's eternal glory (John 17:5), is worshiped (Hebrews 1:6), and possesses the divine name and identity (Philippians 2:9–11).

---

Additional Biblical Evidence

Jesus possesses titles belonging only to Yahweh.

First and Last

Isaiah 44:6

↓

Revelation 1:17

---

Lord of Glory

Psalm 24

↓

1 Corinthians 2:8

---

Savior

Isaiah 43:11

↓

Titus 2:13

---

Judge of All

Joel 3

↓

John 5:22

---

Worshiped

Only God receives worship.

Yet

Matthew 14:33

Matthew 28:9

Hebrews 1:6

show Jesus receiving worship without rebuke.

---

Witness of the Early Church Fathers

St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. A.D. 107)

"Our God, Jesus Christ..."

—Letter to the Ephesians 18.2.^1

---

St. Irenaeus (c. A.D. 180)

Christ is

"God and Lord and eternal King."

—Against Heresies III.19.2.^2

---

Tertullian (c. A.D. 210)

The Son shares

the Father's divine substance.

—Against Praxeas 2.^3

---

St. Athanasius (4th century)

Only God can rightly be called the First and the Last.

The Son possesses these divine titles because He is eternally God.

—Against the Arians.^4

---

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus is fully God from all eternity.

CCC 454

"The title 'Son of God' signifies the unique and eternal relationship of Jesus Christ to God his Father."^5

CCC 590

Jesus identified Himself with the divine name and exercised prerogatives belonging to God alone.^6

CCC 663

Christ shares the Father's divine glory and reigns eternally.^7

---

Historical Timeline

c. A.D. 30 – Jesus claims divine prerogatives.

c. A.D. 95 – Revelation identifies Jesus as Alpha and Omega.

107 – Ignatius calls Jesus "our God."

180 – Irenaeus teaches Christ's full divinity.

325 – The Council of Nicaea affirms the Son is "of one substance" (homoousios) with the Father, defending the apostolic faith against Arianism.

---

Theological Significance

If Alpha and Omega belongs only to God,

and

Jesus is Alpha and Omega,

then

Jesus possesses the divine identity.

This does not mean the Father is the Son.

Rather,

Father and Son are distinct Persons who share the one divine nature.

This is the foundation of the doctrine of the Trinity.

---

Conclusion

The Bible never attributes Alpha and Omega to any ordinary human being.

It is a uniquely divine title rooted in Yahweh's self-revelation in Isaiah and Revelation.

The Book of Revelation applies this title to both God and Jesus Christ. Likewise, Jesus calls Himself "the First and the Last," a title Isaiah explicitly reserves for Yahweh alone. These texts, together with the witness of the early Church and the Church's constant teaching, provide strong evidence that the New Testament presents Jesus not merely as God's representative but as sharing the divine identity.

Therefore, the claim that Jesus cannot be God because only the Father is God does not adequately account for the biblical data. The scriptural evidence consistently points to Christ's full deity while maintaining the distinction between the Father and the Son within the mystery of the Trinity.

---

Chicago-Style Inline Footnotes

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians 18.2.
2. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies III.19.2.
3. Tertullian, Against Praxeas 2.
4. Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Arians.
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §454.
6. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §590.
7. Catechism of the Catholic Church, §663.

 

Did Any of the Apostles Deny That Jesus Is Truly God? A Biblical, Historical, and Catholic Apologetic Response to Seventh-day Adventist Objections

Did any of the Apostles deny that Jesus is truly God? Discover the biblical evidence, testimony of the early Church Fathers, Catholic teaching, and responses to common Seventh-day Adventist objections regarding Christ's divinity.

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Introduction

One of the most important questions in Christianity is not whether Jesus was merely a prophet, teacher, or Messiah, but whether He is truly God incarnate.

Some critics—including certain Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) writers and other restorationist groups—argue that the Apostles never believed Jesus was Almighty God. According to this view, Jesus is only the divine Son of God but not fully equal with the Father.

However, this claim does not withstand careful examination of Scripture, apostolic teaching, and the historical witness of the earliest Christians.

The New Testament reveals a progressive understanding among the Apostles. During Jesus' earthly ministry, they often misunderstood His identity. Yet after His Resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they unanimously proclaimed Jesus as sharing the divine identity of the one true God.

The Catholic Church did not invent Christ's divinity centuries later. Rather, she faithfully preserved what the Apostles themselves preached.

---

The Apostles Grew in Understanding

During Jesus' public ministry, even His closest followers struggled to understand Him.

They asked:

"Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
(Mark 4:41)

Even after numerous miracles, they had not yet grasped His full identity.

Following the Resurrection, however, everything changed.

Jesus opened their minds:

"Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."
(Luke 24:45)

The Holy Spirit then guided them into all truth (John 16:13).

Therefore, if someone quotes statements made before the Resurrection while ignoring the Apostles' later preaching, he presents only part of the biblical picture.

---

Thomas Made the Clearest Confession

After doubting the Resurrection, the Apostle Thomas encountered the risen Christ.

Instead of merely saying "My Teacher" or "My Master," Thomas declared:

"My Lord and my God!"
(John 20:28)

This is among the strongest Christological confessions in Scripture.

Significantly, Jesus never corrected Thomas.

Had Thomas committed blasphemy by calling a mere creature "God," Jesus would have rebuked him.

Instead, Christ answered:

"Because you have seen me, you have believed."

Jesus accepted Thomas' confession as true.

---

John Explicitly Calls Jesus God

John begins his Gospel with words echoing Genesis:

"In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God."
(John 1:1)

Fourteen verses later he identifies the Word:

"The Word became flesh."
(John 1:14)

There is no ambiguity.

The eternal Word who became flesh is God.

John concludes his First Epistle:

"He is the true God and eternal life."
(1 John 5:20)

This was written decades after Pentecost and reflects mature apostolic theology.

---

Peter Also Calls Jesus God

Peter opens his second letter:

"To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing... through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."
(2 Peter 1:1)

The Greek grammar follows what scholars commonly call the Granville Sharp construction, in which "God" and "Savior" refer to the same person: Jesus Christ.

Thus Peter identifies Jesus as both God and Savior.

---

Paul Declares Jesus to Be God

Although not one of the Twelve, Paul was personally commissioned by the risen Christ.

His letters repeatedly affirm Jesus' deity.

Examples include:

• Titus 2:13
• Romans 9:5
• Colossians 2:9
• Philippians 2:6–11

Especially noteworthy:

"For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily."
(Colossians 2:9)

Paul does not describe Jesus as possessing partial divinity but the fullness of deity.

---

Jesus Receives Worship

Throughout the Old Testament, worship belongs exclusively to God (Deuteronomy 6:13; Isaiah 42:8).

Yet the Apostles worship Jesus.

Examples include:

• Matthew 14:33
• Matthew 28:9
• Matthew 28:17
• Luke 24:52

Jesus never rejects their worship.

By contrast, angels refuse worship (Revelation 22:8–9), and Peter refuses worship (Acts 10:25–26).

The difference is significant.

---

Jesus Performs Divine Works

The Apostles attribute to Jesus actions belonging to God alone.

These include:

• Creation (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16)
• Forgiveness of sins (Mark 2:5–12)
• Judgment of humanity (John 5:22–23)
• Receiving prayer (Acts 7:59)
• Eternal existence (John 8:58)

No faithful Jew would attribute these divine prerogatives to a mere creature.

---

Common SDA Objections Answered

Objection 1:

"Jesus never directly said, 'I am God.'"

Response

Jesus repeatedly claimed divine authority using language His Jewish audience recognized.

Examples include:

• John 8:58 ("Before Abraham was, I AM.")
• John 10:30
• John 5:17–23

The Jewish leaders attempted to stone Him precisely because they understood these claims as making Himself equal with God.

---

Objection 2:

"Jesus called the Father 'the only true God' (John 17:3)."

Response

John 17:3 distinguishes the Father from false gods, not from the Son.

In the very same Gospel:

• John 1:1 calls Jesus God.
• John 20:28 calls Jesus God.

Furthermore, John 17:5 speaks of the glory Jesus shared with the Father before the world existed, something no created being possesses.

---

Objection 3:

"The Apostles only called Jesus the Son of God."

Response

The title "Son of God" in first-century Judaism often implied equality with God.

John explains:

"He was calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God."
(John 5:18)

Thus the Jewish audience understood the claim far more strongly than many modern readers do.

---

Objection 4:

"The doctrine of Christ's divinity was invented at the Council of Nicaea."

Response

The Council of Nicaea (A.D. 325) did not invent Christ's deity.

Rather, it defended apostolic teaching against the claims of Arius.

Long before Nicaea, Christians already worshiped Jesus as God.

---

What Did the Early Church Fathers Believe?

Ignatius of Antioch (A.D. 107)

On his way to martyrdom, Ignatius repeatedly referred to:

"Jesus Christ our God."¹

This is only a few years after the death of the Apostle John.

---

Justin Martyr (A.D. 155)

Justin identified Christ as the divine Word who appeared throughout the Old Testament.²

---

Irenaeus of Lyons (A.D. 180)

A disciple of Polycarp—who himself had been taught by John—Irenaeus wrote:

"He is Himself in His own right, beyond all men who ever lived, God, Lord, and King eternal."³

---

Tertullian (A.D. 213)

Tertullian defended the doctrine of one God in three Persons decades before Nicaea.⁴

---

Catholic Teaching

The Catholic Church teaches:

"Jesus Christ is true God and true man."⁵

The Church did not create this doctrine but faithfully handed on the Apostolic faith.

The Catechism teaches:

• Christ is eternally begotten of the Father.
• He is consubstantial with the Father.
• He became man without ceasing to be God.

Relevant paragraphs include:

• CCC 422–455
• CCC 464–469
• CCC 590–594

---

Did Any Apostle Deny Jesus Was God?

The answer is No.

Before the Resurrection, the Apostles frequently misunderstood Jesus.

After Pentecost:

• Thomas confessed Him as God.
• John proclaimed Him as God.
• Peter called Him God.
• Paul called Him God.
• All the Apostles worshiped Him.
• None ever retracted these beliefs.

The only Apostle who betrayed Jesus, Judas Iscariot, died before any later confession or denial of Christ's divinity is recorded. Scripture does not portray his betrayal as a theological rejection of Jesus' divine nature.

---

Conclusion

The New Testament presents a consistent and compelling witness.

The Apostles did not end their lives believing Jesus was merely a prophet or an exalted creature. They proclaimed Him as the eternal Word made flesh, worthy of worship, sharing the Father's divine identity.

The testimony of Scripture is reinforced by the earliest Christian writers, many of whom learned directly from the Apostles or their immediate disciples. Their writings show remarkable continuity with the faith later articulated by the Catholic Church.

Consequently, the assertion that the Apostles denied Christ's divinity—or that the Church invented this doctrine centuries later—is not supported by the biblical text or by the historical record.

---

Key Takeaways

• The Apostles' understanding of Jesus developed throughout His ministry but reached its fullness after the Resurrection and Pentecost.
• Thomas explicitly confessed Jesus as "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28).
• John, Peter, and Paul all describe Jesus in language identifying Him with the one true God.
• The earliest Church Fathers consistently affirmed Christ's full divinity long before the Council of Nicaea.
• The Catholic Church preserves and teaches the apostolic faith concerning Jesus Christ as true God and true man.

---

References (Chicago Style)

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians 18.2; Letter to the Romans Preface.
2. Justin Martyr, First Apology, chs. 63–64; Dialogue with Trypho, ch. 61.
3. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies 3.19.2.
4. Tertullian, Against Praxeas, chs. 2–3.
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd ed. (Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997), §§422–455, 464–469, 590–594.

 

From Gospels to Revelation: The Apostles’ Deepening Understanding of Christ’s Divinity

From Gospels to Revelation: The Apostles’ Deepening Understanding of Christ’s Divinity

One of the most common objections raised by groups such as the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) is that the divinity of Christ was a “later invention” and that the Apostles supposedly never understood Jesus as God.

However, when we carefully examine the biblical timeline—from the Gospels to Revelation—we see something very different:

👉 The Apostles did not “invent” Christ’s divinity later.
👉 Instead, their understanding deepened progressively under divine revelation, guided by the Holy Spirit.

This development is not contradiction—it is growth in theological clarity, just as Jesus Himself promised:

“The Holy Spirit… will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13)

---

I. The Gospels: The Seed of Christ’s Divinity

In the Gospels, we see implicit and explicit declarations of Christ’s divine identity.

1. Jesus’ Divine Authority (Synoptic Gospels)

• Forgives sins → something only God can do

  “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Mark 2:7)

  Yet Jesus forgives sins (Mark 2:5–10)

• Lord of the Sabbath

  “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:28)

• Receives worship

  “And those in the boat worshiped Him…” (Matthew 14:33)

2. Explicit Divine Identity (John’s Gospel)

John’s Gospel makes the divinity unmistakable:

• John 1:1

  “The Word was God.”

• John 20:28

  “My Lord and my God!”

• John 8:58

  “Before Abraham was, I AM.”

👉 The phrase “I AM” directly echoes Exodus 3:14, the divine name of Yahweh.

---

II. The Apostolic Preaching in Acts: Public Declaration of Christ as Lord

After Pentecost, the Apostles preach Christ more openly and theologically:

1. Peter’s preaching

• “God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

• “There is salvation in no one else.” (Acts 4:12)

2. Divine titles applied to Jesus

• “Lord” (Kyrios) → Greek term used in the Septuagint for Yahweh
• “Son of God” → not merely human kingship but divine identity in context

3. Worship and divine invocation

• Early Christians called on Jesus in prayer:

  “Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Acts 2:21; cf. Joel 2:32)

Paul applies this to Jesus → identifying Him with Yahweh.

---

III. Pauline Letters: Theological Maturity of Christ’s Divinity

Paul’s writings (earliest New Testament texts) present a fully developed Christology.

1. Christ is God

• “Christ… who is God over all, blessed forever.” (Romans 9:5)

• “In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily.” (Colossians 2:9)

2. Pre-existence of Christ

• “Though He was in the form of God…” (Philippians 2:6)

3. Cosmic role of Christ

• “All things were created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)

👉 Creation belongs only to God → yet Christ is Creator.

---

IV. The Later Apostolic Writings: Hebrews, Peter, John, Revelation

1. Hebrews: Christ above angels

• “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” (Hebrews 1:8)

• Angels worship Him (Hebrews 1:6)

2. 2 Peter

• “Our God and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:1)

3. Revelation: The climax of divine revelation

Revelation presents Jesus as:

• “Alpha and Omega” (Revelation 22:13)
• “The First and the Last”
• Worshiped alongside the Father (Revelation 5:13–14)

👉 In Jewish monotheism, worship belongs only to God.

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V. Did the Apostles “Develop” Their Belief? Yes—but Not from Error to Truth

The INC objection often assumes:

“If doctrine developed, it must be false.”

But biblical development means:

✔ Not contradiction

✔ Not invention

✔ But unfolding revelation

Jesus Himself said:

“I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (John 16:12)

This shows:

• gradual understanding
• guided by the Holy Spirit
• full truth revealed after Pentecost

---

VI. Early Church Fathers Confirm Apostolic Belief in Christ’s Divinity

The earliest Christians immediately understood the Apostolic teaching as divine Christology:

1. St. Ignatius of Antioch (c. 107 AD)

“Our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived by Mary…”¹

2. St. Justin Martyr (c. 150 AD)

“We worship Christ, who is the Son of the true God.”²

3. St. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD)

“Christ Jesus is our Lord, and God, and Savior.”³

👉 These Fathers were direct successors of the Apostles’ teaching—no sign of a “late invention.”

---

VII. Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church summarizes this apostolic faith clearly:

“Jesus Christ is true God and true man.” (CCC 464)⁴

“The Word became flesh to save us by reconciling us with God.” (CCC 457)⁵

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VIII. Answering INC Objections

❌ Objection 1: “Jesus never said, ‘I am God’”

✔ Response:
Jesus used divine claims:

• “I AM” (John 8:58)
• forgave sins
• accepted worship
• claimed unity with the Father (John 10:30)

---

❌ Objection 2: “Apostles never believed Jesus was God”

✔ Response:

• Thomas calls Him “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28)
• Paul calls Him “God over all” (Romans 9:5)
• Hebrews calls Him “God” (Hebrews 1:8)

---

❌ Objection 3: “Divinity of Christ was invented later”

✔ Response:

• Already present in earliest Pauline letters (50s AD)
• Fully expressed in John (90s AD)
• Confirmed by 1st-century Fathers like Ignatius

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IX. Conclusion: One Faith, One Continuous Revelation

From the Gospels to Revelation, the pattern is clear:

✔ Jesus is revealed progressively
✔ Apostles deepen understanding under the Spirit
✔ Early Church immediately confesses His divinity
✔ No historical gap shows “invention”

👉 The divinity of Christ is not a later doctrine—it is the core apostolic faith revealed from the beginning and fully understood over time.

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Footnotes (Chicago Style)

1. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Ephesians, 18.2.
2. Justin Martyr, First Apology, 13.
3. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, III.19.
4. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 464.
5. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 457.