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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: Who is Jesus' God? |
Bible Note: Alpha and Omega. Who is this “A” to “Z” so to speak, according to the Scriptures? Who is this “first and last,” and “beginning and end” I will note three manuscript variations that lend support to a specific line of thought which have contributed to varying conclusions. By a study of each occurrence of these descriptions or titles, we can determine who was intended to be referred to, according to context. Rev 1:8, according to the NIV and NWT agree that the Alpha and Omega is the Almighty God who is Jehovah and there are no varying ancient manuscripts of this verse. Now let’s look at verse seven and see if the link is legitimate in identifying verse 7 to verse 8 to being Jesus. Who is the one one identified in verse 7 where it says, “the One who is, and who was, and who is to come” is given to One who is clearly distinguished from both the “seven spirits” and “Jesus Christ.” Obviously the only other one from whom “undeserved kindness and peace” could come is the Father. The “coming” of the “Alpha and Omega” in verse 8 is consistent with Jehovah’s “coming” in verse four. Revelation 6:16,17 also tell us of the Father’s coming along with the Lamb. Note the word “their“ in the phrase, “the great day of their wrath has come”. The Textus Reseptus (from which we have the KJV and Jerusalem Bible versions) has the Greek for “His” (autou). The other main manuscripts such as the Sinaitic MS of the fourth century and according to Bruce Metzger, A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 1975, “all minuscule” have the Greek word for “their” (autwn). This interpolation lends support to a line of thought not originally intended. Thus Rev 1:7 speaks of Jesus’ coming. Rev 1:8 speaks of Jehovah’s coming. Rev 1:4 speaks of Jehovah’s coming. The second interpolation of ancient manuscripts is found in Rev 1:11. If this interpolation were correct, if the KJV, Textus Reseptus were correct then Jesus would be an indisputed reference as the Alpha and Omega since verses twelve through twenty show him to be the speaker in this context. What’s interesting is that other Bible versions also add the words “Alpha and Omega”, dishonesty at it’s height, such as, “The Living Bible”, “The Amplified New Testament“, and “Young’s Literal Translation of the Holy Bible”, by Robert Young who even admits that “the oldest MSS.” omit the Alpha and Omega interpolation, in his commentary, “Young’s Concise Commentary on the Holy Bible“, paperback ed 1977 p. 179. Revelation 21:6 too should be understood to refer to Jehovah, the Father and God of Jesus when taken in context. Verse five tells us that the One seated on the throne is the speaker and in verse 6 he identifies himself as the “Alpha and the Omega”. Now I ask of the last of verse 7, who will be his son? The opening words identifies those that conquer as “his son”. Gal 3:26 and 4: |