I am is a common expression used even today
True.
and has never been a claim of divinity.
Incorrect. Simply because the first premise is true, does not give validity to the second.
While, I (myself) or someone like John the Baptist can use the phrase "I am" (or even "
εγω ειμι" in koine Greek, or something similar in Hebrew) it doesn't
necessarily mean that I (or we) are claiming to be Deity, Divinity, God, etc., yet it does not automatically exclude such a possibility either, and the context of the phrase, in it's use, would determine whether such a claim (to be Deity) was made.
For instance, I can say of myself:
"I am going to the store."
That is the entire context of the phrase, "I am" there. Did I make any claim to be Deity? No, so therefore, your first premise is true.
Now for the second premise:
If I were to use the phrase "I am" in conjunction with the remaining contexts, I would indeed be making such a claim to be Deity:
I AM the Bread of Life
Joh_6:35 And Jesus said unto them,
I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Joh 6:35 ειπεν δε αυτοις ο ιησους
εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης ο ερχομενος προς με ου μη πειναση και ο πιστευων εις εμε ου μη διψηση πωποτε
Joh 6:41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said,
I am the bread which came down from heaven.
Joh_6:41 εγογγυζον ουν οι ιουδαιοι περι αυτου οτι ειπεν
εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο καταβας εκ του ουρανου
Joh_6:48
I am that bread of life.
Joh 6:48
εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης
Joh_6:51
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
Joh 6:51
εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο ζων ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας εαν τις φαγη εκ τουτου του αρτου ζησεται εις τον αιωνα και ο αρτος δε ον εγω δωσω η σαρξ μου εστιν ην εγω δωσω υπερ της του κοσμου ζωης
I AM the Light of the World:
Joh_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,
I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Joh 8:12 παλιν ουν ο ιησους αυτοις ελαλησεν λεγων
εγω ειμι το φως του κοσμου ο ακολουθων εμοι ου μη περιπατησει εν τη σκοτια αλλ εξει το φως της ζωης
Joh_9:5 As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world.
Joh 9:5 οταν εν τω κοσμω
ω φως
ειμι του κοσμου
I AM One that Bear Witness of Myself:
Joh 8:18
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
Joh_8:18
εγω ειμι ο μαρτυρων περι εμαυτου και μαρτυρει περι εμου ο πεμψας με πατηρ
I AM before Abraham:
Joh_8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that
I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Joh 8:24 ειπον ουν υμιν οτι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε οτι
εγω ειμι αποθανεισθε εν ταις αμαρτιαις υμων
Joh_8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was,
I am.
Joh 8:58 ειπεν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν πριν αβρααμ γενεσθαι
εγω ειμι
I AM the Crucified One:
Joh_8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that
I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Joh 8:28 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους οταν υψωσητε τον υιον του ανθρωπου τοτε γνωσεσθε οτι
εγω ειμι και απ εμαυτου ποιω ουδεν αλλα καθως εδιδαξεν με ο πατηρ μου ταυτα λαλω
I AM the Door (Sanctuary; Psalms 77:13):
Joh_10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep.
Joh 10:7 ειπεν ουν παλιν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν οτι
εγω ειμι η θυρα των προβατων
Joh_10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:9
εγω ειμι η θυρα δι εμου εαν τις εισελθη σωθησεται και εισελευσεται και εξελευσεται και νομην ευρησει
I AM the Good Shepherd:
Joh_10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:11
εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος ο ποιμην ο καλος την ψυχην αυτου τιθησιν υπερ των προβατων
Joh 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Joh 10:14
εγω ειμι ο ποιμην ο καλος και γινωσκω τα εμα και γινωσκομαι υπο των εμων
I AM the Resurrection and the Life:
Joh_11:25 Jesus said unto her,
I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:25 ειπεν αυτη ο ιησους
εγω ειμι η αναστασις και η ζωη ο πιστευων εις εμε καν αποθανη ζησεται
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life:
Joh_14:6 Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:6 λεγει αυτω ο ιησους
εγω ειμι η οδος και η αληθεια και η ζωη ουδεις ερχεται προς τον πατερα ει μη δι εμου
I AM the True Vine:
Joh_15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Joh 15:1
εγω ειμι η αμπελος η αληθινη και ο πατηρ μου ο γεωργος εστιν
Joh_15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:5
εγω ειμι η αμπελος υμεις τα κληματα ο μενων εν εμοι καγω εν αυτω ουτος φερει καρπον πολυν οτι χωρις εμου ου δυνασθε ποιειν ουδεν
I AM -
Joh 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them,
I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Joh_18:5 απεκριθησαν αυτω ιησουν τον ναζωραιον λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους
εγω ειμι ειστηκει δε και ιουδας ο παραδιδους αυτον μετ αυτων
Joh_18:6 As soon then as he had said unto them,
I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.
Joh 18:6 ως ουν ειπεν αυτοις οτι
εγω ειμι απηλθον εις τα οπισω και επεσον χαμαι
Joh_18:8 Jesus answered, I have told you that
I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:
Joh 18:8 απεκριθη ο ιησους ειπον υμιν οτι
εγω ειμι ει ουν εμε ζητειτε αφετε τουτους υπαγειν
Joh_13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that
I am he.
Joh 13:19 απ αρτι λεγω υμιν προ του γενεσθαι ινα οταν γενηται πιστευσητε οτι
εγω ειμι
Joh 6:20 But he saith unto them, It is
I; be not afraid.
Joh_6:20 ο δε λεγει αυτοις
εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε
I AM (Bonus) - The first person He said it to, A Samaritan Woman at the Well:
Joh_4:26 Jesus saith unto her,
I that speak unto thee
am he.
Joh 4:26 λεγει αυτη ο ιησους
εγω ειμι ο λαλων σοι
Therefore, take a good long look at those uses of "I am". They are indeed claiming in the context something far greater and beyond than what I said in use of the first premise, "I am going to the store." If I were to state as a matter of fact to a question posed to me like as the Pharisees did to Jesus, in the context of John 8:58, and John 10:30, etc that "Before Abraham was I am", I would indeed be claiming something extraordinary.
Look closely at John 10:11,14. "I am the good shepherd"? Who does the Bible alone say is "good"? Think carefully.
Look closely at John 8:12, 9:5. "I am the Light of the world"? Who does the Bible say is the "Light"? Think carefully.
Read these passages carefully, in that "Light":
Php 2:11 και πασα γλωσσα εξομολογησηται οτι κυριος ιησους χριστος εις δοξαν θεου πατρος
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1Co 12:3 διο γνωριζω υμιν οτι ουδεις εν πνευματι θεου λαλων λεγει αναθεμα ιησουν και ουδεις δυναται ειπειν κυριον ιησουν ει μη εν πνευματι αγιω
1Co 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
1Co 15:47 ο πρωτος ανθρωπος εκ γης χοικος ο δευτερος ανθρωπος ο κυριος εξ ουρανου
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
Paul is referring to the OT use of JEHOVAH, when in the NT he uses the phrase "Lord" (κυριος), and according to the text just cited, only those who have the Holy Ghost/Spirit of JEHOVAH can acknowledge this. Paul is not saying by Philippians 2:11, that Jesus Christ is "king" ("Lord" in that sense), but is saying that those who have the Holy Ghost/Spirit can and do acknowledge that Jesus is JEHOVAH (the Son) to the glory of JEHOVAH the Father. It's like saying John Jones Jr. is "Jones" to the glory of John Jones (the Father). It is much more than simply saying that John Johns Jr is King like His Father is, but includes the very nature and name and character of His Father in it.