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NASB | John 8:58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 8:58 Jesus replied, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, before Abraham was born, I Am." [Ex 3:14] |
Bible Question (short): 'I AM' or 'I exist'? |
Question (full): Greetings All! Is there evidence that 'ego eimi' in John 8:58 can be used to mean more than 'I exist'? There certainly is such evidence. Consider some of the following passages. 1) John 8:24 - "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." (NIV) This is one of the places where I do not like the NIV's translation. The Greek here literally reads, "...if you do not believe that I am". What exactly is so important here that one could die in his sins for not believing? Must one believe that Jesus exists? The people to whom Jesus was speaking clearly knew that He existed? ;-) Jesus is clearly speaking of 'identity', not existence in this verse. As we will see later, 'I am' has been used by God in the same way. 2) John 8:28 - "So Jesus said, 'When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am the one I claim to be and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.'" Here we have the same sort of construction as in John 8:24 and John 8:58. Again, the Greek simply says 'I am'. Would the Jews only believe that Jesus existed after they killed Him? Or, was Jesus speaking of more than just existence? 3) John 13:19 - "I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He." Again, what does it mean to believe that 'I am'? It must mean more than that He simply exists! The answer is found when we discover that God used this same phrase in exactly the same manner. 4) Is. 43:10-11 says, "'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. 11 I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no savior.'" Notice what God says about Himself in the middle of v. 10, "...so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he". Guess how the LXX translates this OT verse? They translate it, "that you may know and believe...that 'EGO EIMI'" Clearly, 'ego eimi' is used many times in the New Testament as simply 'i am', without any particular theological significance. However, just as clearly 'ego eimi' is used a number of times with great theological significance. Unless one believes that Jesus 'ego eimi', one will die in his sins. Jesus (John 8:24). Some would not believe that Jesus 'ego eimi' until He died (John 8:28). Jesus told His disciples things in advance so that they might believe that He 'ego eimi' when they take place. The Jews tried to kill Jesus for saying that He 'ego eimi'. Why? The answer is found in Is. 43:10! The Jews clearly understood that Jesus was using 'ego eimi' with very clear theological meaning. He was claiming to be God. Look at John 10:31-33: "Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, 'I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?' 33 'We are not stoning you for any of these,' replied the Jews, 'but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.'" The message is clear my friends! Unless we accept Christ as God, we cannot be saved! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |