Divine Paradoxes: Resolving Seeming Contradictions in Christian Theology
Category 4: Eternality and Temporality Paradoxes
1. Introduction
One of the most awe-inspiring declarations in Scripture is that Jesus Christ is both the beginning and the end—the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13). This paradox compresses time, history, creation, and destiny into the person of Christ, who exists eternally yet entered time to fulfil salvation. He is both origin and fulfilment, source and goal, first and last. This theological truth raises key questions: How can Christ be both the cause and the conclusion? What does it mean for believers that the One who begins all things also brings them to completion?
2. Scriptural Foundations
2.1 Christ as the Beginning
- John 1:1–3 – “In the beginning was the Word… all things were made by him.”
- Colossians 1:16–17 – “By him were all things created… and by him all things consist.”
- Revelation 3:14 – “The beginning of the creation of God.”
2.2 Christ as the End
- Revelation 22:13 – “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.”
- Hebrews 12:2 – “Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
- 1 Corinthians 15:24–28 – Christ shall hand over the Kingdom to the Father, completing all rule and authority.
3. Theological Meaning
- Christ as Alpha means He is pre-existent, the cause and sustainer of all life and purpose,
- Christ as Omega means He is the telos (end/goal) of all creation—everything finds fulfilment in Him,
- Jesus is not merely a historical figure within time—He is the cosmic Lord of time and eternity.
4. Paradox Explained
| Christ as Beginning | Christ as End |
|---|---|
| All things made by Him (John 1:3) | All things will be reconciled in Him (Col. 1:20) |
| He is the firstborn over all creation (Col. 1:15) | He is the judge and heir of all things (Heb. 1:2) |
| He initiated faith (Heb. 12:2) | He perfects and completes faith (Heb. 12:2) |
5. Christ in Creation and Consummation
- Jesus is the Logos (Word) by whom the world was made (John 1:1),
- He is also the one who returns to judge and renew all things (Revelation 21:5),
- His role spans Genesis to Revelation, affirming that history is Christocentric.
6. Implications for Eschatology and Worship
- Christ is the key to understanding all of redemptive history—it begins with Him and ends in Him,
- All history is not cyclical but linear, moving toward consummation in Christ,
- Worship of Christ is not just for what He has done, but for who He eternally is—the Alpha and Omega.
7. Practical Implications
- Believers can live with confidence—the One who began a good work in them will complete it (Philippians 1:6),
- Faith is not aimless; it has a defined origin and destination in Christ,
- Hope is grounded in the fact that the future is already held in the hands of the Eternal Son.
8. Summary Table
| Title | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Alpha (Beginning) | Christ as Creator, Initiator, Source |
| Omega (End) | Christ as Consummator, Judge, Goal |
| Author of Faith | He initiates personal and cosmic redemption |
| Finisher of Faith | He brings believers and creation to full completion |
9. Conclusion
To say that Jesus is both the beginning and the end is to confess that all of time, creation, and salvation history finds its true meaning in Him. This paradox reminds believers that their lives are not scattered or random but are held within the divine arc of Christ’s eternal purpose. From creation to new creation, from personal salvation to global consummation, He is all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
References
- The Holy Bible, King James Version (KJV)
- Augustine. On the Trinity
- Calvin, J. Institutes of the Christian Religion
- Torrance, T.F. The Christian Doctrine of God
- Wright, N.T. History and Eschatology
- Barth, K. Church Dogmatics, II/1