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Lenten Season · Holy Thursday: Chrism Mass · Year A

Revelation 1:5-8

Greetings and Doxology

April 2, 2026

The Last Judgment, Stefan Lochner
The Last Judgment, Stefan Lochner, c. 1435Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne
A Cologne altarpiece in which the saved go quietly through a gate on the left and the damned are dragged into a hell of inventive and specific horrors on the right.Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him.Stefan LochnerThe leading painter of Cologne in the fifteenth century, who combined soft Gothic sweetness with Netherlandish realism.Wallraf-Richartz Museum, CologneCologne's oldest museum, founded on a canon's bequest in 1824, strongest in medieval Cologne painting.Wallraf-Richartz Museum, Cologne
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 4:16-21Lk 4:16-21
Second ReadingRev. 1:5-8Rev 1:5-8
First ReadingIsa. 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9Is 61:1-3ab, 6a, 8b-9
Responsorial PsalmPs. 89:21-22, 25+27 (2a)Ps 89:21-22, 25+27 (2a)

Overview & Insights

“I am the Alpha and the Omega… who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

The prologue (1:1–8) continues with a greeting and doxology (1:4–6) followed by a prophetic confession (1:7–8). John’s greeting of grace and peace to the seven churches compares to the kind of greeting we find in Paul’s letters, but John includes a fuller description of the source of the greeting: the Triune God. One reason this section packs such rhetorical punch is the repetition of threes throughout (e.g., threefold description of both the Father and the Son). The number three, which represents sufficiency and completeness, reinforces the importance of what is being communicated. In the prophetic confession, John highlights the return of Christ and the sovereignty of God, two realities that would both comfort suffering Christians and challenge complacent Christians. Outline b. Greeting and doxology (1:4–6) i. Greeting (1:4–5a) ii. Doxology (1:5b–6) c. Prophetic confession (1:7–8) i. Exclamation of Jesus’s return (1:7) ii.

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Commentary

Commentary on Revelation 1:4b-8Commentary on Rev 1:4b-8 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary on Christ the faithful witness and ruler of kings, the RCL Christ the King B reading covering this text.

Revelation 1 Commentary: A Vision of Jesus ChristRev 1 Commentary: A Vision of Jesus Christ Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik on the greeting from the Alpha and Omega who freed us by his blood.

Revelation 1 CommentaryRev 1 Commentary Precept Austin

Detailed compilation of notes and cross-references on Revelation 1.

Revelation 1:5 CommentariesRev 1:5 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on Jesus the firstborn of the dead and ruler of earthly kings.

Revelation 1:4b-8 CommentaryRev 1:4b-8 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on the doxology and the Alpha and Omega declaration.

Background & Word Study

Revelation 1:5 InterlinearRev 1:5 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word-by-word study of the titles given to the risen Christ.

Book of Revelation Summary (Overview Video)Book of Rev Summary (Overview Video) BibleProject

Animated overview of Revelation's opening vision of the exalted Jesus.

The Church Fathers

Revelation 1 - Catena Bible & CommentariesRev 1 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on the vision of Christ who is and was and is to come.

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