Born Again Christians KNOW that Jesus explained Himself as the "I AM":
John 8[58] Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
'I am' a born-again believer and I do not believe that Jesus = 'I am.' I, myself am 'I am' myself...not a riddle... let me explain the verse you quoted by using a previous commentary I earlier made.
A little lengthy although the message is clear...
(Joh 8:58) Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Before Abraham was, I am. (KJV)
(Joh 8:58) Jesus said to them: Truly, truly, I say to you: I am of higher status than Abraham ever was (NEV)
The Trinitarian Christian and even other 'Jesus is God' groups incorrectly conclude that verse 58b says that Jesus claimed to be two things: a pre-existent god (a deity) being, before the birth of Abraham, and, or the eternal one, YHWH.
By taking this rigid and un-contextual stance, it exposes them to several clear and undeniable contradictions made by Jesus:
1. This is the exact opposite and contradicts what Jesus just said in John 8: 54, that he does not boast about himself or elevate himself because it is worthless as his Father elevates or glorifies him. His Father made him above Abraham. Jesus cannot elevate himself without the Father. His Father alone elevated Jesus above Abraham. If Jesus meant that he was elevated to be equal with his Father, YHWH or YHWH himself, would not be a very stupid and absurd claim?
Of course, Trinitarians do not believe that the Father is God
alone, only 1/3 of the whole personality of God. Jesus, they say is also 1/3 personality of God and therefore can only elevate himself with his Father’s permission. They say Jesus’ Father is co-equal with him and both are YHWH. And we have not even mentioned the other last 1/3 personality of God, the Holy Spirit, that does seem to have an input or say in this matter.
2. Jesus just previously said in John 5:31-32 and 8:17-18 that his testimony alone does not mean anything without his Father’s testimony. Why would his Father, YHWH, agree with Jesus if he said he was YHWH, his own Father? That would be an insane thought.
3. In Phil 2:5-9, Jesus said he became a person of no reputation a humble servant of his Father. Trinitarians become confused here as they believe that Jesus is humble and at the same time a boastful and self-glorifying person, claiming to be YHWH or the eternal one. The two faces of Trinitarianism are exposed here.
4. Trinitarians say the Jews wanted to stone Jesus because of his boastful claim to fame, being YHWH himself. Trinitarians contradict Jesus yet again: Jesus said these Jews could not understand what he was saying in Verse 58 because they were not of God; they were children of the devil (John 8:43-47). They thought Jesus and Abraham were with God and Jesus had higher authority that Abraham. And then for Jesus to say they were not the children of Abraham or God. That’s why they picked up stones.
5. Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone he was the Messiah of God (Matthew 16:20; Luke 9:20-21). But we are now expected to believe that Jesus suddenly changed his mind, against the will of his Father, and now permitted his disciples to go around Israel declaring Jesus himself to be Yahweh
their God, let alone the Messiah of YHWH? This is the most ridiculous and absurd contradiction.
Trinitarians also attempt to claim
scriptural support for why Jesus claimed to pre-exist or was YHWH in Verse 58.
They claim that the last two words of verse 58b ‘I am,’ is the Greek transliterated expression ‘ego eimi’ that means the same Hebrew expression for the divine name of God as found in Exodus 3:14. Therefore this is their concrete proof that Jesus is claiming to be the divine YHWH.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Greek transliterated expression ‘ego eimi’ does mean ‘I am.’ However, this is not what the similar expression in Exodus 3:14 means at all. The Greek translated Hebrew expression in Exodus 3:14 is ‘ego eimi ho ōn’ that means ‘I am the being’ or ‘I am the existence’ or ‘I am existing,’ and other words for this effect – not ‘I am.’ They are completely different with completely different meanings. Exodus 3:14 should never use the words the English expression of ‘I am.’ The divine name of God is ‘ego eimi ho ōn’, not simply ‘ego eimi.’
To add further ridicule for the Trinitarian claim here are examples of how absurd it is to think and use ‘I am’ as the divine name of God in the New Testament.
Can you imagine if we searched for and replaced every ‘I am’ found with YHWH in the New Testament?
Here are some examples that alters scripture:
Matt 10:16 -
YHWH sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves.
Matt 16:15 - He said to them: But who do you say that
YHWH?
Matt 24:5 - For many shall come in my name, saying:
YHWH the Christ, and shall lead many astray.
Luke 1:19 - And the angel answering said to him:
YHWH Gabriel who stands in the presence of God..
Luke 22:33 - And he said to him: Lord, with you
YHWH ready to go both to prison and to death.
John 1:20 - He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed:
YHWH not the Christ!
John 8:58b - Before Abraham,
YHWH
The Greek expression ‘ἐγώ εἰμι’ and transliterated ‘ego eimi’ and in English, ‘I am’ or usually translated more completely as ‘I am he’ or ‘I am the one,’ is truly a common expression and used many times in the New Testament. And this expression is mostly placed at the front or at the end of a sentence or statement.
I am (he) (one) is NOT a code set or words for the divine name of YHWH. Focusing on this false code distracts and blinds one from understanding what is being said.
Further, the ‘I am’ type (‘It is I’..) expression is designed to be placed in a sentence for emphasis only, nothing more.
Here are some examples:
Matt 26:25 - And Judas, who betrayed him, answered and said:
Is it I, Rabbi? He said to him: You have said it.
Luke 1:19 - And the angel answering said to him:
I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you these good tidings.
Luke 21:8 - And he said: Take heed you are not led astray. For many shall come in my name, saying:
I am he, and, The time is at hand. Do not be led astray by them.
John 6:20 - But he said to them:
It is I! Be not afraid!
John 8:18 -
I am he that testifies of myself; and the Father that sent me testifies of me.
John 8:24 - I replied to you, that you shall die in your sins. For unless you believe that
I am he, you shall die in your sins.
John 9:9 - Others said:
It is he. Others said: No, but he is like him. He said:
I am he.
John 13:19 - From this time forward I will tell you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe that
I am he.
John 18:5 - They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them:
I am he (Judas, the one who betrayed him, was standing with them).
Act 10:21 - And Peter went down to the men and said:
I am the one you seek. Why have you come?
Romans 11:13 - " But I speak to you who are Gentiles- inasmuch as
I am an apostle of the Gentiles, I glorify my ministry, "
Rev 2:23 - And I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that
I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will repay each of you as your works deserve.
You might want to consider what I've said before quickly flipping out this verse again as you try to convince others of your credentials for being a born-again Christian.
Bless you,
APAK
)
