"Before Abraham Was, I AM"

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

dmdar

Well-Known Member
Sep 29, 2025
323
352
63
42
Middletown
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!
 

marks

Well-Known Member
Oct 10, 2018
38,988
25,096
113
SoCal USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!
Yes, I think so also.

Before Abraham did exist then, I do exist now.

Only any eternal being can say that.

Much love!
 

lforrest

Admin
Staff member
Admin
Aug 10, 2012
6,565
7,935
113
Faith
Christian
Gender
Male
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!
I agree. I also think Jesus was identifying with the name of God that had been given to Moses. And that was the main reason they tried to throw him off a cliff.

There are other statements in the bible that point to timeless qualities of Christ. Such as him being the lamb who was slain from the beginning of the world.

The resurrection hadn't come yet, but he resurrected Lazarus before he himself was resurrected.

I also believe that anyone in the past or future who was healed or resurrected draws upon the power of Christ at the moment of his scourging and resurrection.
 

LoveYeshua

Eagle
Staff member
Sep 25, 2024
1,855
1,101
113
Quebec
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
Gender
Male
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!
The Holy Spirit told you this, as you go more things will be opened to you...

Blessings
 

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!
Are you sure Yeshua was not just answering the Pharisees' immediate, and previous remark in their misunderstanding about Yeshua's previous comment that Abraham saw his Day, that then caused them to bring up his age. And there's much more to muddle over in his statement than meets the eye.
 

rvmb

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2025
1,252
329
83
Adelaide
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Are you sure Yeshua was not just answering the Pharisees' immediate, and previous remark in their misunderstanding about Yeshua's previous comment that Abraham saw his Day, that then caused them to bring up his age. And there's much more to muddle over in his statement than meets the eye.
""And there's much more to muddle over in his statement than meets the eye.""
Only if you refuse to accept that Christ existed as The Word before creation.
 

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
""And there's much more to muddle over in his statement than meets the eye.""
Only if you refuse to accept that Christ existed as The Word before creation.
Switching to a completely different topic that also demands careful attention, if not more, in terms of translation and interpretation.

I just hope you feel confident about the conclusions you have drawn from both of these scriptures as your references. I mean truly confident, based on the thoroughness of your research. I hope you are not applying and commanding scripture to meet your pre-conceived conclusions or expectations about who is the Son of God?

We cannot simply reduce Christ to an unusual and simplistic common denominator across many scriptures where his Father is both the subject and the object. Then this new denominator does not particularly or explicitly align with scripture unless the necessary theological and spiritual work is done to highlight the essential aspects of who he claimed to be and who he is. We must not deviate from his foundation or create a new, exotic, additional foundation for him. John, in particular, has repeatedly spoken about who he is, and his Father's status is not included among those descriptions, and it is not the same. They differ in many respects.

All this said, I believe there are things we can agree about that are essential for the Kingdom to come, in full.
 

TrevorHL

Active Member
Jul 17, 2024
617
174
43
82
New South Wales / Lake Macquarie
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Greetings dmdar,
"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)
I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM?
I believe that John 8:58 should be translated as "I am he", the same as John 8:24 and John 8:28 and is part of the theme in John's Gospel of whether or not Jesus is the Christ.

Kind regards
Trevor
 
  • Love
Reactions: JustMe

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Yeshua answered both questions in John Chapter 8 :58 pertaining to verses 53 and 57, simultaneously...with cleverness and class.

Yeshua claimed to be greater than Abraham (question from verse 53), asserting that Abraham had seen His day and rejoiced in anticipation of the Messiah’s coming (question from verse 57). This claim is rooted in the belief that Abraham, through divine revelation, received a prophetic glimpse of the future redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Yeshua was in the divine plan of his God for our salvation, as Messiah. This conforms to John's theme of the role of the Son of God, as the Son of Man and also the Messiah.

According to the Gospel of John, Jesus declared, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” , indicating that Abraham had a spiritual vision of the Messiah’s arrival, even though he lived centuries before Jesus’ earthly ministry.

Several biblical events are interpreted as moments when Abraham may have seen or experienced a foreshadowing of Jesus’ day. In Genesis Chapter 14, Abraham encountered Melchizedek, a priest-king of Salem who blessed him and was later identified in the New Testament as a type of Christ, a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. This encounter is seen as a prophetic anticipation of Jesus’ eternal priesthood and his superiority over Abraham.

Yes, Abraham was renowned as the father of the Hebrews, and Pharisees, and a friend of God, although, Yeshua existed in the mind and divine plan of his Father, who is God, to be his son and his Messiah of our salvation. Of a much higher rank or status than Abraham, and his contribution to the divine plan of God.

Stones were ready to fly...the Pharisees never believed that Yeshua was the real Messiah, maybe a few, watching him on the Cross, changed their minds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Aunty Jane

rvmb

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2025
1,252
329
83
Adelaide
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Switching to a completely different topic that also demands careful attention, if not more, in terms of translation and interpretation.

I just hope you feel confident about the conclusions you have drawn from both of these scriptures as your references. I mean truly confident, based on the thoroughness of your research. I hope you are not applying and commanding scripture to meet your pre-conceived conclusions or expectations about who is the Son of God?

We cannot simply reduce Christ to an unusual and simplistic common denominator across many scriptures where his Father is both the subject and the object. Then this new denominator does not particularly or explicitly align with scripture unless the necessary theological and spiritual work is done to highlight the essential aspects of who he claimed to be and who he is. We must not deviate from his foundation or create a new, exotic, additional foundation for him. John, in particular, has repeatedly spoken about who he is, and his Father's status is not included among those descriptions, and it is not the same. They differ in many respects.

All this said, I believe there are things we can agree about that are essential for the Kingdom to come, in full.
"We cannot simply reduce Christ to an unusual and simplistic common denominator across many scriptures where his Father is both the subject and the object.""
I accept & believe that The Father, The HS, Christ ( in some form) pre-existed Creation, if you want to dispute that then save your keystrokes for someone else :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: lforrest

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
"We cannot simply reduce Christ to an unusual and simplistic common denominator across many scriptures where his Father is both the subject and the object.""
I accept & believe that The Father, The HS, Christ ( in some form) pre-existed Creation, if you want to dispute that then save your keystrokes for someone else :)
That's the 2nd time you have turned me down. I guess we're not getting engaged any time soon.:Laughingoutloud:
 

TrevorHL

Active Member
Jul 17, 2024
617
174
43
82
New South Wales / Lake Macquarie
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Greetings JustMe,
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus declared, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” , indicating that Abraham had a spiritual vision of the Messiah’s arrival, even though he lived centuries before Jesus’ earthly ministry.
As a result of the events of Genesis 22, Abraham not only foresaw the Ministry of Jesus, but that he would be the perfect Lamb of the true Burnt Offering.

Genesis 22:7–8 (KJV): 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Thus Abraham also understood to some extent the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus:
Genesis 22:11–14 (KJV): 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen

.
Hebrews 11:17–19 (KJV): 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure

Kind regards
Trevor
 
  • Like
Reactions: JustMe

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Greetings JustMe,

As a result of the events of Genesis 22, Abraham not only foresaw the Ministry of Jesus, but that he would be the perfect Lamb of the true Burnt Offering.

Genesis 22:7–8 (KJV): 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Thus Abraham also understood to some extent the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus:
Genesis 22:11–14 (KJV): 11 And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen

.
Hebrews 11:17–19 (KJV): 17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure

Kind regards
Trevor
Excellent follow-up support. Thanks
 

ScottA

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2011
15,576
6,968
113
www.FinishingTheMystery.com
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Switching to a completely different topic that also demands careful attention, if not more, in terms of translation and interpretation.

I just hope you feel confident about the conclusions you have drawn from both of these scriptures as your references. I mean truly confident, based on the thoroughness of your research. I hope you are not applying and commanding scripture to meet your pre-conceived conclusions or expectations about who is the Son of God?

We cannot simply reduce Christ to an unusual and simplistic common denominator across many scriptures where his Father is both the subject and the object. Then this new denominator does not particularly or explicitly align with scripture unless the necessary theological and spiritual work is done to highlight the essential aspects of who he claimed to be and who he is. We must not deviate from his foundation or create a new, exotic, additional foundation for him. John, in particular, has repeatedly spoken about who he is, and his Father's status is not included among those descriptions, and it is not the same. They differ in many respects.

All this said, I believe there are things we can agree about that are essential for the Kingdom to come, in full.
God speaking "in other words" throughout the scriptures doesn't mean he is not speaking of the same thing. An example would be Jesus's common use of "the kingdom of heaven is like" followed by a different example or explanation.

"I AM" is Jesus showing his ID.

And the third Woe is the woe of the Holy Spirit--"and the third day I shall be perfected."
 

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
God speaking "in other words" throughout the scriptures doesn't mean he is not speaking of the same thing. An example would be Jesus's common use of "the kingdom of heaven is like" followed by a different example or explanation.

"I AM" is Jesus showing his ID.

And the third Woe is the woe of the Holy Spirit--"and the third day I shall be perfected."
Yes, individuals can occasionally express themselves using a preparatory or post-empathic "I am," including Yeshua. This is common to all people, all sons of men.

Consider:
(Mar 14:61) But he held his peace and said nothing. Again the high priest questioned him, saying: Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
(Mark 14:62): And Jesus said: I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.

Notice how this two-word expression, "I am," would hold and fixate attention on Yeshua in a crowd. He emphasizes it with the words 'I am' that he is this Son of God the Messiah of his blessed Father, who is the one true God. He, and no one else can be this person of God.

I would not restrict this identification and the usage of this expression solely to Jesus, however. And that should be very obvious to any casual observer.
 

rvmb

Well-Known Member
Jul 3, 2025
1,252
329
83
Adelaide
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
That's the 2nd time you have turned me down. I guess we're not getting engaged any time soon.:Laughingoutloud:
Do you believe that The Father AND The HS AND Christ (in some form) pre-existed creation ?
 

JustMe

Well-Known Member
May 6, 2025
1,172
1,333
113
US
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Do you believe that The Father AND The HS AND Christ (in some form) pre-existed creation ?
You are quoting from your Creed playbook. There is no adopted spiritual playbook that I believe in, and I never will my friend.

Here's some key points that you can carry with you after this session, to maybe reflect upon, as to why some do not believe as you do.

1. Adherents of the Nicene Creed, as I'm not of them, make Scripture untenable to understand particularly from those that emphasize sola scriptura and reject creedal authority.

2. Some argue as I do, that the Nicene Creed introduces philosophical concepts—such as "homoousios" (consubstantial)—that are not explicitly or even inferred in Scripture and thus obscure or distort biblical teaching.

3. They also contend, as I do, that the creed's use of Greek philosophical categories, like ousia (essence) and hypostasis (person), creates a metaphysical framework that is foreign to the biblical narrative and can lead to a misunderstanding of God's nature.

4. That the creed's formulation of the Trinity—defining the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one being in substance—can undermine the biblical portrayal of the true Father and Son.

5. That the original creed's emphasis on divine unity, while intended to combat heresies like Arianism, has led to a loss of clarity about the nature of God, the Father and his Son.

6. The creed's language, particularly in its later formulations, can be unintelligible or alienating to modern believers, leading to a mechanical recitation without genuine comprehension.

7. From the previous point, this can result in a disconnect between the creed's words and the lived faith of individuals, making it difficult to see how the creed supports or clarifies Scripture. In this view, the creed becomes a barrier rather than a bridge to understanding the Bible.

And on this last point, we are seeing this scripture block or filtering action present now, as I write on these forums today.

It will never subside, until this creed is reevaluated truly alongside scripture. The two are far apart and never complimentary in thought for true belief.

Thus, the response to your question is clearly no. The Father possessing His own (holy) Spirit is the origin of all life beyond time and space, and His Son was first established in his Father's word/logos, to be created through the same Father's word/logos at the right moment in time, for our salvation.

The Son, as a man, was baptized as a symbol of his readiness to offer his pure spirit as an unblemished lamb, demonstrating true humility and obedience to his Father's will, marking the start of his divine mission toward the Cross. Immediately after, He was anointed by equipping the Son with His Father's word and Spirit.

I hope this gives you a clearer picture as to why I cannot agree with you on your affirmation statement.
 
  • Like
Reactions: saved by grace 101

keithr

Well-Known Member
Dec 4, 2020
2,003
541
113
Dorset
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
Gender
Male
I believe that John 8:58 should be translated as "I am he", the same as John 8:24 and John 8:28 and is part of the theme in John's Gospel of whether or not Jesus is the Christ.
For Jesus to say "Before Abraham was born, I am he" doesn't make much sense as a reply to John 8:57 (UASV+):

(57) So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"​

The UASV note on the translation provides the most sensible translation - John 8:58 (UASV+):

(58) Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am. N3​

Note N3:
The Greek (ἐγώ εἰμι egō eimi) is “I am.” However, based on grammar and context, an alternative reading could be, “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I have been in existence.”​
 

Davy

Well-Known Member
Feb 11, 2018
15,973
3,379
113
Southeastern U.S.
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Something that came to me that blew my socks off:

"Before Abraham Was, I AM" (Jn.8:58)

I had never understood this but suddenly tonight I believe the meaning came to me. Why did Jesus say I AM? Why didn't he just say I was? I think the answer is that God inhabits eternity. He cannot say I was, or I will be as God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He never changes. God is outside time!

Outside of time, that's the right way to look at it from our limited perspective.

Might want to also check out the Hebrews 11:3 verse which contrasts the realm of Spirit with the realm of material matter. It says basically that material matter did not create itself, which has to mean that material matter was created from and by a DIFFERENT DIMENSION, the realm of Spirit where God dwells. And Apostle John did say that "God is a Spirit" in John 4:24. Yet, many brethren struggle with understanding this, because of listening too much to their carnal fleshy mind. The flesh cannot grasp it.
 

TrevorHL

Active Member
Jul 17, 2024
617
174
43
82
New South Wales / Lake Macquarie
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Greetings keithr,
For Jesus to say "Before Abraham was born, I am he" doesn't make much sense as a reply to John 8:57 (UASV+):
(57) So the Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?"
"I am he" makes perfect sense if the full context is considered including:
According to the Gospel of John, Jesus declared, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” , indicating that Abraham had a spiritual vision of the Messiah’s arrival, even though he lived centuries before Jesus’ earthly ministry.
The Pharisees understood what he meant but deliberately muddied the water in order to stir up the crowd, but they failed. Jesus maintained the theme that he had been advocating throughout John 8 that he was the Christ, the true seed of Abraham, the seed of the woman, while they revealed that they were the seed of the serpent, willing to bruise the heel of Jesus in crucifixion Genesis 3:15.

Kind regards
Trevor