The Divinity of Jesus Christ: The First & Last
Overview
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Jesus claimed to be the Almighty God on several occasions by applying to himself the exclusive titles and descriptions of God from the Old Testament. Familiarity with the Old Testament is therefore vital for understanding and recognising Jesus' self-identification as the Almighty God in the New Testament. Jesus' decision to communicate his identity by using the thought categories and religious texts of Judaism makes perfect sense, for Jesus came as the Jewish Messiah and to minister firstly among the Jewish people. Like Jesus, the New Testament authors also describe Jesus as the Almighty God by using the exclusive titles and descriptions of God from the Old Testament.
The following is an example of Jesus communicating his identity as the Almighty God (in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit) by applying to himself a title or description of God from the Old Testament.​
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The First & Last
The Old Testament states that only God is the First and Last because only God exists eternally and is without beginning (Isaiah 44:6). This means that God existed before anything was created and it is through God’s creative work that all things came into existence and were given life (Isaiah 48:12-13). As the Almighty Creator and the source and sustainer of all existence, God is consequently present with every generation of creation from the first to the eventual last (Isaiah 41:4). Put more broadly, all things exist within the context of God’s eternal and uncreated existence and all things have their beginning and end in Him because He is the First and Last. It is also correct that because the God of Israel is the only God that exists, He is the First and Last God that humanity will ever have (Isaiah 43:10 & 45:5-6). Significantly, the Quran (57:1-3) says that Allah is the First and Last, and Islamic scholarship has categorised ‘The First’ (Al-Awwal) and ‘The Last’ (Al-Aakhir) as two of the ninety-nine names that belong exclusively to Allah. These details are significant because the New Testament identifies Jesus as the First and Last.
In a vision given to the Apostle John, Jesus identified himself as the First and Last (Revelation 1:17-18, 2:8 & 22:12-16, 22:20). This means that just as God is Uncreated and Eternal because He is the First and Last, so too is Jesus Uncreated and Eternal because he is the First and Last. In other words, Jesus is the Almighty and Everlasting God who created all things and is present with every generation of creation from the beginning until the end or from the first until the last. Jesus' identity as the Almighty God (in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit) is therefore evidenced by the fact that Jesus is the First and Last.
Bible & Quran Passages
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Isaiah 41:4
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(4) Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD - with the first of them and with the last - I am he.
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Isaiah 43:10
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(10) “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
Isaiah 44:6
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(6) This is what the LORD says - Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the First and I am the Last; apart from me there is no God.
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Isaiah 45:5-6
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(5) I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, (6) so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other.
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Isaiah 48:12-13
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(12) Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the First and I am the Last. (13) My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.
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Revelation 1:17-18
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(17) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. (18) I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
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Revelation 2:8
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(8) “To the angel of the church in Smyrna write: ‘These are the words of him who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
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Revelation 22:12-16 & 22:20
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(12) “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. (13) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
(14) “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. (15) Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
(16) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”
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(20) He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
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The Quran 57:1-3 (Abdul Haleem)
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(1) Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies God - He is the Almighty, the Wise. (2) Control of the heavens and earth belongs to Him; He gives life and death; He has power over all things. (3) He is the First and the Last; the Outer and the Inner; He has knowledge of all things.
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