Editing Alpha (section)

===Alpha and Omega===
[[Image: Königsberg Marienkirche - Fenster 1a AlphaOmega.jpg|right|thumb|Stained glass featuring Alpha and Omega in the {{ill|Marienkirche (Königsberg in Bayern)|de|lt=Königsberg in Bayern Marienkirche}}]]
{{main|Alpha and Omega}}

As the first letter of the alphabet, Alpha as a [[Greek numeral]] came to represent the number [[1 (number)|1]].
Therefore, Alpha, both as a symbol and term, is used to refer to the "first", or "primary", or "principal" (most significant) occurrence or status of a thing.
 
The New Testament has God declaring himself to be the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." ([[Revelation 22:13]], KJV, and see also [[Revelation 1:8|1:8]]).

Consequently, the term "alpha" has also come to be used to denote "primary" position in social hierarchy, examples being the concept of dominant [[Alpha (ethology)|"alpha"]] members in groups of animals.