Nicaea, Johannine Style
Who is the one who “is, was, and coming”? In Revelation 1:4, it’s the Father. In verse 8, it seems to be the Triune God.
Who is “Alpha and Omega”? In Revelation 1:8, it’s the Triune God. In 22:13, it’s Jesus.
As Joseph Mangina has put it, John indicates that the Triune persons are fractals. Each Person manifests the pattern of the whole. Each of the three is Himself triadic.
And that works even if 1:8 is a statement of the Father, because 1:8 is a triadic identification—Alpha and Omega; One who is, was, and coming; the pantokrator .
This is John’s version of “three Persons, one substance.” It’s Nicaea, Johannine style.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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