Easton's Bible Dictionary

Study the Bible with Easton's Bible Dictionary

Easton's Bible Dictionary was authored by Matthew George Easton (1823-1894). In addition to his Bible dictionary, this Scottish Presbyterian's most significant literary achievements were his English translations of two of Franz Delitzsch's commentaries. Easton's Bible Dictionary generally refers to the Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, by Matthew George Easton, M.A., D.D. (1823-1894), published (three years after Easton's death) in 1897 by Thomas Nelson. Easton's Bible Dictionary contains nearly 4,000 entries relating to the Bible, from a 19th century Christian viewpoint.

      
A

Alpha, the first letter of the Greek alphabet, as Omega is the last. These letters occur in the text of Rev. 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13, and are represented by "Alpha" and "Omega" respectively (omitted in R.V., 1:11). They mean "the first and last." (Comp. Heb. 12:2; Isa. 41:4; 44:6; Rev. 1:11,17; 2:8.) In the symbols of the early Christian Church these two letters are frequently combined with the cross or with Christ's monogram to denote his divinity.