₦airaland Forum

MaxInDHouse:
Who did Jesus prayed to? Luke 6:12
Who raised Jesus' dead body? Act 2:32

All knees must bow to Jesus including your very knees no matter how deviant you are to accepting he is God. Bible already said, God has put all things under him and that all knees including yours will bow to him. Angels have been commanded to worship him, so who are you?

How shameful it will be to bow to an oga you refused to submit to not out of your own volition but because you are forced to. The day is coming that you will bow. Scripture cannot lie

And that day, you will have to explain to yourself the difference between bow and worship

FreeIgboho:
Show us ONE instance where Jesus said : "I'm only a man". Far from it, he says "I am", knowing fully well the implication to the Jews!

"Son of man" Matthew 20:28; 24:37,39; 25:31
The son of man means he is a man.
He prayed to God several times just like all other humans do pray to God.
He cried to God for help just like all other people do. Hebrews 5:7
He told his disciples that they are his brothers and God is the father of both him and his disciples. John 20:17
This "i am" in that context means "i exist" anybody can say it when asked a question. John 4:26

Ruke1990:
All knees must bow to Jesus.

It's a pity you don't even know what this means!
Bowing to Jesus in this context simply means OBEYING him not WORSHIP as you people thinks.
That's why he said:
‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far removed from me. It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines.’ Matthew 15:8-9
So worshiping Jesus is futile obedience is what he requires of his disciples.
If i should put you and your church to scrutiny now to see whether you people are OBEDIENT to Jesus' orders you will be confused because you've not been taught how to do what he commanded!

MaxInDHouse:
"Son of man" Matthew 20:28; 24:37,39; 25:31
The son of man means he is a man.
He prayed to God several times just like all other humans do pray to God.
He cried to God for help just like all other people do. Hebrews 5:7
He told his disciples that they are his brothers and God is the father of both him and his disciples. John 20:17
This "i am" in that context means "i exist" anybody can say it when asked a question. John 4:26

You are lost in minutae and therefore cannot see the big picture. Here's an illustration:

A man makes a bow to Moses or any other prophet and they'll say to him: "Why are you bowing to me? Am I God?

Same man says to Jesus (slowly): "It just dawned on me, you are actually God the Son of God!"
Jesus will say to him (somewhat excitedly): "Now he gets it! That's what I've been trying to tell you people! Do I have to spell everything out for you? You are so slow to understand because you are very hard-hearted!"

Someone was accused severally by people who knew him and listened to him of claiming to be God and you are here quibbling that his "I am" meant "I exist"!

FreeIgboho:
You are lost in minutae and therefore cannot see the big picture. Here's an illustration:
A man makes a bow to Moses or any other prophet and they'll say to him: "Why are you bowing to me? Am I God?
Same man says to Jesus (slowly): "It just dawned on me, you are actually God the Son of God!"
Jesus will say to him (somewhat excitedly): "Now he gets it! That's what I've been trying to tell you people! Do I have to spell everything out for you? You are so slow to understand because you are very hard-hearted!"
Someone was accused severally by people who knew him and listened to him of claiming to be God and you are here quibbling that his "I am" meant "I exist"!

Here is the verse you are referencing:

“Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58

It's not difficult to grasp!

Ruke1990:
This issue has been discussed and concluded here on nairaland last month. Why bringing it up again? Nairaland needs to work toward preventing redundancy. This is the previous thread where we concluded. JW folks had to abandon the sophisticated and superior bible verses we posted there so they stopped responding and came to create new thread spamming nairaland with heresy

https://www.nairaland.com/8420353/jesus-god-why-did-he

Read the thread above from beginning to the end and towards the end, the JW could no more defend their blasphemy about Jesus who they said is thesame person as Moses and angel Michael. They run away from that thread because the bible evidences there that supported Jesus being God were too strong for them to counter so they created this new thread to argue afresh. All evidences to show that jesus is God are in the thread I posted above. Anyone who is interested should read the whole thread and get themselves a bible education

Did you say last month? It's has been concluded almost 10 times now in just the lady 2 years on Nairaland.

FreeIgboho:
That's the mistake you people make. God has no definition in human terms.
See if you can wrap your mind around this:
There are over 2 trillion galaxies in our universe. And possibly unlimited number of universes. Now, shrink our galaxy to the size of the earth and our earth will be smaller than a grain of salt! Add to that, there are likely multiple dimensions. That's the God you're trying to define!

It is the will of God that we may know him. That's the purpose of his revealed word. You don't need to comprehend the galaxies to know God, just read his words and invite his spirit.

MaxInDHouse:
Here is the verse you are referencing:

“Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58

It's not difficult to grasp!

No, here is the verse.
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am !
It's not difficult to grasp that Jesus Christ is the I Am of the old testament.

MaxInDHouse:
Here is the verse you are referencing:

“Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58

It's not difficult to grasp!

So why did the Jews read it to mean he was claiming to be God? Is he the only person in the history of Israel who has said "I exist"?
And how come Jesus never protested (like every one else) when worshipped or when directly called God?

There are actually other verses. Here they are
(You go explain tire )

John 14:9 “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

AND
Mathew 16
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.

AND
John 20:28
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

AND
John 8
58 “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him... (for obviously claiming to be God)

AND
John 10:33,: "We are not stoning you for any good work," they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God,"

AND
John 14:11,: Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.

AND
Mark 14,: Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”
62 “I am,” said Jesus...
63 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?”
(Here again Jesus uses the divine "I am"}

tctrills:
It is the will of God that we may know him. That's the purpose of his revealed word. You don't need to comprehend the galaxies to know God, just read his words and invite his spirit.

Will of God as determined by who - man!
It's like saying it is the will of God that there no longer be tragedies or natural disasters. Or it is the will of God that you be able to visualize other dimensions. The reality is, you can’t! Otherwise the nature of God will be pre-imprinted in our hearts and we'll all agree from birth - hence there'd be no need for this sort of thread!

FreeIgboho:
Will of God as determined by who - man!
It's like saying it is the will of God that there no longer be tragedies or natural disasters. Or it is the will of God that you be able to visualize other dimensions. The reality is, you can’t! Otherwise the nature of God will be pre-imprinted in our hearts and we'll all agree from birth - hence there'd be no need for this sort of thread!

I choose to believe God and disbelief you. You can know God and he wants us to know him. you are a man claiming it's impossible to know God while God is inviting us to know him. For me, it's a very easy choice.

tctrills:
I choose to believe God and disbelief you. You can know God and he wants us to know him. you are a man claiming it's impossible to know God while God is inviting us to know him. For me, it's a very easy choice.

"Know God" is different from using human logic to understand how God can be in heaven and still be in each of us, or be able to listen to millions of prayers simultaneously, or in heaven while also dying on a cross, or raise himself from dead as if dissolved, with the wrappings untouched. Those are what's beyond human reasoning and logic

FreeIgboho:
So why did the Jews read it to mean he was claiming to be God? Is he the only person in the history of Israel who has said "I exist"?

Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob the man called "Israel" who gave birth to the twelve sons that became the nation of Israel.
So if a 33 year old man says he existed before Abraham then he is declaring himself to be a god because only gods are immortal!

That's why they said:

“You are not yet 50 years old, and still you have seen Abraham?” John 8:57

It's easy to understand!

tctrills:
No, here is the verse.
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am !
It's not difficult to grasp that Jesus Christ is the I Am of the old testament.

My own Bible reads:

“Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58

Nothing like "i am" there!

MaxInDHouse:
My own Bible reads:

“Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.” John 8:58

Nothing like "i am" there!

Ok good you reinvented the bible. Every man to his bible

MaxInDHouse:
Abraham is the grandfather of Jacob the man called "Israel" who gave birth to the twelve sons that became the nation of Israel.
So if a 33 year old man says he existed before Abraham then he is declaring himself to be a god because only gods are immortal!

That's why they said:

“You are not yet 50 years old, and still you have seen Abraham?” John 8:57

It's easy to understand!

And he had to say it using those exact words that mean God to Israelites. Plus other things he also said that never made it into the Bible, plus attitude, plus body language, plus he said the same "I am" to the chief priest, plus "I and the Father are one", plus "once you've seen me, you've seen the father", etc.
Simple, Jesus said he was God because he is!

tctrills:
Ok good you reinvented the bible. Every man to his bible

That verse was translated from Hebrew so it wasn't "I AM" in Hebrew!

FreeIgboho:
And he had to say it using those exact words that mean God to Israelites. Plus other things he also said that never made it into the Bible, plus attitude, plus body language, plus he said the same "I am" to the chief priest, plus "I and the Father are one", plus "once you've seen me, you've seen the father", etc.
Simple, Jesus said he was God because he is!

Guy, i told you earlier that with my own brothers globally we agreed that Jesus is not our God because we know how Jesus defined God for us in his thoughts, words and actions.

Why not agree with the other guy after all he is one of your "I AM" people?

MaxInDHouse:
Guy, i told you earlier that with my own brothers globally we agreed that Jesus is not our God because we know how Jesus defined God for us in his thoughts, words and actions.

Why not agree with the other guy after all he is one of your "I AM" people?

So we agree, Jesus did say he was God the Son of God. You and your brothers globally can agree on whatever you wish, just don't keep arguing "obeisance", "I exist", etc

FreeIgboho:
So we agree, Jesus did say he was God the Son of God. You and your brothers globally can agree on whatever you wish, just don't keep arguing "obeisance", "I exist", etc

We don't argue among ourselves it's you people that can never ever agree on the same line of thought regarding your god one thing or another will always divide you making you people idle yet claiming Christians!

MaxInDHouse:
We don't argue among ourselves it's you people that can never ever agree on the same line of thought regarding your god one thing or another will always divide you making you people idle yet claiming Christians!

That's how you know without a doubt you are a brainwashed robot. Thinking humans who use their God-given brains will always have areas of divergence. Even people who witness same event give differing accounts of it. But for you it is a matter of "you people" vs. "me and my brothers", with no iota of reflection involved. Sad, isn't it?

FreeIgboho:
That's how you know without a doubt you are a brainwashed robot. Thinking humans who use their God-given brains will always have areas of divergence. Even people who witness same event give differing accounts of it. But for you it is a matter of "you people" vs. "me and my brothers", with no iota of reflection involved. Sad, isn't it?

That's what your type in the first century called our brothers back then because we will always have the same line of thought {John 17:22; 1Corinthans 1:10; Ephesians 4:3} that's exactly what Jesus the firstborn of our family said about our father when he said:

"I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

And prayed for his brothers (disciples) to be the same with him and his father:

"I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one.  I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me. John 17:22-23

If you call us CULT {Matthew 10:24-24} we are happy, if you call us psychopaths we are pleased it's exactly what your type said about our brother (Jesus)


Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
‭John 10:20 NIV‬

But one thing is certain in our spiritual family we can't think outside the house of faith:

‭
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." John 8:28 NIV‬

So my guy it's your (I AM family) that's not united in thought as each of you just want to have his own idea about what your god should be {Genesis 3:1-5} but as for Jesus and we his brothers we don't think outside what our father says!

MaxInDHouse:
That's what your type in the first century called our brothers back then because we will always have the same line of thought {John 17:22; 1Corinthans 1:10; Ephesians 4:3} that's exactly what Jesus the firstborn of our family said about our father when he said:

"I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

And prayed for his brothers (disciples) to be the same with him and his father:

"I have given them the glory that you have given me, in order that they may be one just as we are one.  I in union with them and you in union with me, in order that they may be perfected into one, so that the world may know that you sent me and that you loved them just as you loved me. John 17:22-23

If you call us CULT {Matthew 10:24-24} we are happy, if you call us psychopaths we are pleased it's exactly what your type said about our brother (Jesus)


Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”
‭John 10:20 NIV‬

But one thing is certain in our spiritual family we can't think outside the house of faith:

‭
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me." John 8:28 NIV‬

So my guy it's your (I AM family) that's not united in thought as each of you just want to have his own idea about what your god should be {Genesis 3:1-5} but as for Jesus and we his brothers we don't think outside what our father says!

You are IEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. Where do you see Jesus there. Why are you suddenly elevating him? Isn't he just a prophet like Moses anymore or Angel Gabriel? Even Thomas and in Gelatians 2 the apostles had minds of their own NOT robots? Even the Bereans were praised for having minds of their own. But to be in an organization where you can't even ask a question for fear of being disfellowshiped? Sad, really sad

FreeIgboho:
You are IEHOVAH'S WITNESSES. Where do you see Jesus there. Why are you suddenly elevating him? Isn't he just a prophet like Moses anymore or Angel Gabriel? Even Thomas and in Gelatians 2 the apostles had minds of their own NOT robots? Even the Bereans were praised for having minds of their own. But to be in an organization where you can't even ask a question for fear of being disfellowshiped? Sad, really sad

Asking questions?

Ọmọ is it before dedicating my life to the God of my choice or after studying God's word for decades and asking thought provoking questions to be certain that it is my choice of God this organization worships that i will start all over again questioning what i have chosen with all my heart?

Well Jehovah's Witnesses differs from you people where you just enter a place of worship before you start studying the type of god they worship there!

MaxInDHouse:
Asking questions?

Ọmọ is it before dedicating my life to the God of my choice or after studying God's word for decades and asking thought provoking questions to be certain that it is my choice of God this organization worships that i will start all over again questioning what i have chosen with all my heart?

Well Jehovah's Witnesses differs from you people where you just enter a place of worship before you start studying the type of god they worship there!

God of your choice😅 Thats a good one. Oga, whatever the higher-ups decide is your choice and you dare not deviate from it. You have no choice, you are owned. When they said beards weren't good, beards were the worst thing, then they changed there minds and it became a beautiful thing. Same thing women wearing trousers. One day they'll decide Jesus is God after all and just like that you'll be singing it overnight!

FreeIgboho:
God of your choice😅 Thats a good one. Oga, whatever the higher-ups decide is your choice and you dare not deviate from it. You have no choice, you are owned. When they said beards weren't good, beards were the worst thing, then they changed there minds and it became a beautiful thing. Same thing women wearing trousers. One day they'll decide Jesus is God after all and just like that you'll be singing it overnight!

Wait until then nah!

MaxInDHouse:
Wait until then!

Wait for what? Will be like waiting for Armageddon of 1914. Whatever happened to that generation of 1914 prophesy? What is the excuse? I'm asking sincerely as I truly want to know. Hasn't the generation all passed away and no Armageddon?

MaxInDHouse:
That verse was translated from Hebrew so it wasn't "I AM" in Hebrew!

Again, you are wrong. First, you don't even speak Hebrew. Secondly, the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew.

“Before Abraham was, I am.” — John 8:58

Jesus says this during a tense exchange with the Pharisees. The moment is theologically profound, and the wording is deliberate.

Was It Written in Greek?
Yes. The Gospel of John was originally written in Koine Greek, and the original Greek for this verse is:

πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi

Which literally translates to:

“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”
Why Not Say “I was”?
Grammatically, we’d expect Jesus to say “I was” (in Greek, ἐγὼ ἦν), but instead He says ἐγώ εἰμι — “I AM.”

This grammatical oddity is intentional. Scholars agree that Jesus is echoing the divine name of God revealed in Exodus 3:14, when God says to Moses:

“I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh)
Greek Septuagint (LXX): ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν — “I am the One who is”

By saying ἐγώ εἰμι in John 8:58, Jesus isn’t just claiming pre-existence — He’s claiming divinity.

What Do Scholars Say?
Theological scholars (both Christian and Jewish) recognize that Jesus’ use of “I AM” here is not normal grammar — it's a theological claim.

Craig Keener, a New Testament scholar, says:

“Jesus uses language associated with God’s self-revelation... not merely claiming pre-existence, but divine identity.”

Raymond E. Brown, a Catholic biblical scholar, notes:

“This is the clearest Johannine statement of Jesus’ divinity before the resurrection.”

And the reaction from the crowd confirms this:

“Then they took up stones to throw at Him...” — John 8:59
Because blasphemy — claiming to be God — was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).

Some do interpret John 8:58 as meaning “I was” instead of “I am.” However, that interpretation doesn’t hold up well when examined through the lens of Greek grammar and biblical context.

Let’s unpack it carefully:

The Original Greek:
πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi
“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”

γενέσθαι = "to become" or "to come into existence" (aorist infinitive of ginomai — describing Abraham’s beginning)

ἐγώ εἰμι = "I am" (present active indicative of eimi, the present tense of “to be”)

Could It Mean “I Was”?
Some argue Jesus meant “I was,” because:

It seems more natural in English grammar to say “Before Abraham was, I was.”

Jesus is speaking about existence prior to Abraham, so it feels like a past-tense idea.

However, in Greek, if Jesus had wanted to say “I was,” He would have used the past tense form:

ἐγώ ἦμην — I was

But He deliberately uses ἐγώ εἰμί — I am — which is present tense, not past.

What Does the Greek Grammar Actually Support?
Greek scholars point out:

The juxtaposition of “Abraham came into being” (γενέσθαι, aorist past tense) and “I am” (εἰμί, present tense) is intentional and meaningful.

This isn't just bad grammar — it's theological emphasis. Jesus is contrasting Abraham’s beginning with His own eternal existence.

Greek allows this construction to indicate timeless existence, especially in philosophical or theological contexts.

Why It Doesn’t Mean Just “I Was”
If Jesus were simply claiming pre-existence, He would have said “I was.”

But “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμί) makes a bolder, theological claim — it ties back to Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name as “I AM.”

The crowd’s reaction — picking up stones to stone Him — suggests they understood this as a claim to divinity, not just an odd grammar slip.

tctrills:
Again, you are wrong. First, you don't even speak Hebrew. Secondly, the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew.

“Before Abraham was, I am.” — John 8:58

Jesus says this during a tense exchange with the Pharisees. The moment is theologically profound, and the wording is deliberate.

Was It Written in Greek?
Yes. The Gospel of John was originally written in Koine Greek, and the original Greek for this verse is:

πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi

Which literally translates to:

“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”
Why Not Say “I was”?
Grammatically, we’d expect Jesus to say “I was” (in Greek, ἐγὼ ἦν), but instead He says ἐγώ εἰμι — “I AM.”

This grammatical oddity is intentional. Scholars agree that Jesus is echoing the divine name of God revealed in Exodus 3:14, when God says to Moses:

“I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh)
Greek Septuagint (LXX): ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν — “I am the One who is”

By saying ἐγώ εἰμι in John 8:58, Jesus isn’t just claiming pre-existence — He’s claiming divinity.

What Do Scholars Say?
Theological scholars (both Christian and Jewish) recognize that Jesus’ use of “I AM” here is not normal grammar — it's a theological claim.

Craig Keener, a New Testament scholar, says:

“Jesus uses language associated with God’s self-revelation... not merely claiming pre-existence, but divine identity.”

Raymond E. Brown, a Catholic biblical scholar, notes:

“This is the clearest Johannine statement of Jesus’ divinity before the resurrection.”

And the reaction from the crowd confirms this:

“Then they took up stones to throw at Him...” — John 8:59
Because blasphemy — claiming to be God — was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).

Some do interpret John 8:58 as meaning “I was” instead of “I am.” However, that interpretation doesn’t hold up well when examined through the lens of Greek grammar and biblical context.

Let’s unpack it carefully:

The Original Greek:
πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi
“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”

γενέσθαι = "to become" or "to come into existence" (aorist infinitive of ginomai — describing Abraham’s beginning)

ἐγώ εἰμι = "I am" (present active indicative of eimi, the present tense of “to be”)

Could It Mean “I Was”?
Some argue Jesus meant “I was,” because:

It seems more natural in English grammar to say “Before Abraham was, I was.”

Jesus is speaking about existence prior to Abraham, so it feels like a past-tense idea.

However, in Greek, if Jesus had wanted to say “I was,” He would have used the past tense form:

ἐγώ ἦμην — I was

But He deliberately uses ἐγώ εἰμί — I am — which is present tense, not past.

What Does the Greek Grammar Actually Support?
Greek scholars point out:

The juxtaposition of “Abraham came into being” (γενέσθαι, aorist past tense) and “I am” (εἰμί, present tense) is intentional and meaningful.

This isn't just bad grammar — it's theological emphasis. Jesus is contrasting Abraham’s beginning with His own eternal existence.

Greek allows this construction to indicate timeless existence, especially in philosophical or theological contexts.

Why It Doesn’t Mean Just “I Was”
If Jesus were simply claiming pre-existence, He would have said “I was.”

But “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμί) makes a bolder, theological claim — it ties back to Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name as “I AM.”

The crowd’s reaction — picking up stones to stone Him — suggests they understood this as a claim to divinity, not just an odd grammar slip.

Maxindhouse has gone mute.😆
So this settles this for good.
Plus the Bible said Jesus spoke with extraordinary authority, so he must have emphasized the "I am" so there was no doubt what he meant. Plus his body language, attitude, and other words that didn't make it into the Bible, must have left absolutely no doubt what he meant!

FreeIgboho:
Wait for what? Will be like waiting for Armageddon of 1914. Whatever happened to that generation of 1914 prophesy? What is the excuse? I'm asking sincerely as I truly want to know. Hasn't the generation all passed away and no Armageddon?

Is Armageddon prophecy written in the Bible? Revelations 16:16
What do you think about this prophecy?
Well since you said:
"I'm asking sincerely as I truly want to know"
I will oblige.
God's organization (people) has always been interested in the time when badness will end so they keep on looking for each prophecy in the scriptures seek meaning to each prophecy and so far so good they keep on WORKING towards the end just as a prophet told them:

For the vision is yet for its appointed time, And it is rushing toward its end, and it will not lie. Even if it should delay, keep in expectation of it! For it will without fail come true. It will not be late! Habakkuk 2:3

Have they gotten perfect interpretations to all these prophecies?
NO!
So Armageddon is not from modern day servants of my God it has been written thousands of years ago John the baptist and Jesus' disciples all got things wrong too that doesn't mean they were false prophets o!
This generation Jesus mentioned actually confused Jesus' first century apostles too but today we know better it simply means the generation that witnessed all the composite sign of the endtime not just those who saw how the signs started.

"Before Abraham i exist"
That's what Jesus meant it's your people in Trinity that fabricated your "I AM" and started using it to promote their Trinity!

tctrills:
Again, you are wrong. First, you don't even speak Hebrew. Secondly, the New Testament was written in Greek, not Hebrew.

“Before Abraham was, I am.” — John 8:58

Jesus says this during a tense exchange with the Pharisees. The moment is theologically profound, and the wording is deliberate.

Was It Written in Greek?
Yes. The Gospel of John was originally written in Koine Greek, and the original Greek for this verse is:

πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi

Which literally translates to:

“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”
Why Not Say “I was”?
Grammatically, we’d expect Jesus to say “I was” (in Greek, ἐγὼ ἦν), but instead He says ἐγώ εἰμι — “I AM.”

This grammatical oddity is intentional. Scholars agree that Jesus is echoing the divine name of God revealed in Exodus 3:14, when God says to Moses:

“I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh)
Greek Septuagint (LXX): ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν — “I am the One who is”

By saying ἐγώ εἰμι in John 8:58, Jesus isn’t just claiming pre-existence — He’s claiming divinity.

What Do Scholars Say?
Theological scholars (both Christian and Jewish) recognize that Jesus’ use of “I AM” here is not normal grammar — it's a theological claim.

Craig Keener, a New Testament scholar, says:

“Jesus uses language associated with God’s self-revelation... not merely claiming pre-existence, but divine identity.”

Raymond E. Brown, a Catholic biblical scholar, notes:

“This is the clearest Johannine statement of Jesus’ divinity before the resurrection.”

And the reaction from the crowd confirms this:

“Then they took up stones to throw at Him...” — John 8:59
Because blasphemy — claiming to be God — was punishable by death (Leviticus 24:16).

Some do interpret John 8:58 as meaning “I was” instead of “I am.” However, that interpretation doesn’t hold up well when examined through the lens of Greek grammar and biblical context.

Let’s unpack it carefully:

The Original Greek:
πρὶν Ἀβραὰμ γενέσθαι, ἐγὼ εἰμί
Prin Abraam genesthai, egō eimi
“Before Abraham came into being, I am.”

γενέσθαι = "to become" or "to come into existence" (aorist infinitive of ginomai — describing Abraham’s beginning)

ἐγώ εἰμι = "I am" (present active indicative of eimi, the present tense of “to be”)

Could It Mean “I Was”?
Some argue Jesus meant “I was,” because:

It seems more natural in English grammar to say “Before Abraham was, I was.”

Jesus is speaking about existence prior to Abraham, so it feels like a past-tense idea.

However, in Greek, if Jesus had wanted to say “I was,” He would have used the past tense form:

ἐγώ ἦμην — I was

But He deliberately uses ἐγώ εἰμί — I am — which is present tense, not past.

What Does the Greek Grammar Actually Support?
Greek scholars point out:

The juxtaposition of “Abraham came into being” (γενέσθαι, aorist past tense) and “I am” (εἰμί, present tense) is intentional and meaningful.

This isn't just bad grammar — it's theological emphasis. Jesus is contrasting Abraham’s beginning with His own eternal existence.

Greek allows this construction to indicate timeless existence, especially in philosophical or theological contexts.

Why It Doesn’t Mean Just “I Was”
If Jesus were simply claiming pre-existence, He would have said “I was.”

But “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμί) makes a bolder, theological claim — it ties back to Exodus 3:14, where God reveals His name as “I AM.”

The crowd’s reaction — picking up stones to stone Him — suggests they understood this as a claim to divinity, not just an odd grammar slip.