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“I am” in John

  • Special syntactical feature

    • In John, the phrase “I am” in Greek is given prominence by the presence of the emphatic pronoun <i>egō</i>, ἐγώ (“I”) in addition to verb <i>eimi</i>, εἰμί (“I am”)

  • The phrase in reference to Jesus

    • Metaphorical use (In combination with a metaphor)

      • The bread of life (Jn 6:35, 48); the bread that came down from heaven (Jn 6:41); the living bread (Jn 6:51); 
      • The light of the world (Jn 8:12; cf. Jn 9:5)
      • The door (Jn 10:7, 9)
      • The good shepherd (Jn 10:11, 14)
      • The resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)
      • The way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6)
      • The (true) vine (Jn 15:1, 5)

    • Absolute use [footnote text=“&quot;Absolute use&quot; refers to the independent use of the expression &quot;I am&quot; without the addition of any metaphor.”]

      • Self-identification and expression of authority (Jn 6:20; 18:5, 6, 8) 
      • Self-revelation of divinity and existence (Jn 8:24, 28, 58; 13:19)
      • See <topic id=“749” startswith=“The LORD’s self-revelation” nth=”1”>The LORD’s self-revelation in the Old Testament</topic>
    • Combined with participle (Jn 4:26; 8:18) or preposition (Jn 8:23)
      • “Where I am” (Jn 7:34, 36; 12:26; 14:3; 17:24)

  • “I am” used as self-identification by others

    • Jn 9:9 – Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." He kept saying, "I am the man."
    • Jn 18:35 – Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?"

  • John’s confession: “I am not”

    • Jn 1:20 – He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
    • Jn 3:28 – You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.'

  • The LORD’s self-revelation in the Old Testament

    • In Ex 3:14, the LORD declared His being with the expression “I AM WHO I AM.” The expression in Greek, Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν, contains the <i>egō eimi,</i> ἐγὼ εἰμί (“I am”) self-identification Jesus uses repeatedly.
    • The LORD often identified Himself with “I am…” [footnote text=“The expression &quot;I am&quot; can be seen in the LXX version of the following verses”]
      • “I am God Almighty” (Gen 17:1)
      • “I am the God of your father” (Ex 3:6)
      • “I am the LORD” (Ex 7:5; 8:22; 14:4, 18; 15:26; 20:2, 5; 29:46; Lev 11:44, 45; 19:10, 12, 14, 18, 25, 28, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37; 21:23; 22:30; 24:22; 25:17; 26:1, 2, 13, 44, 45; Num 35:34; Deut 5:9; Isa 45:8, 19; 61:8; Jer 9:24; 24:7; Ezek 7:9; 28:22, 23, 24, 26; 29:6, 9, 16, 21; 30:8, 19, 25, 26; 32:15, 33:29; 34:15, 27, 30; 35:4, 9, 12, 15; 36:11, 23; 37:6, 13, 28; 38:23; 39:6, 7, 22, 28)
      • “I am your God” (Isa 41:10)
      • “I am he who blots out your transgressions (Isa 43:25)
      • “I am God” (Isa 45:22; 46:9; Hos 11:9)
      • “I am the first and I am forever” (Isa 48:12)
      • “I am he who comforts you” (Isa 51:12)
      • “I am he who speaks” (Isa 52:6)
      • “I am a great king” (Mal 1:14)
    • The absolute form of <i>egō eimi,</i> ἐγὼ εἰμί (“I am”) is found in the Greek version of the Old Testament Scriptures. It is the LORD’s declaration of His eternal existence, uniqueness, and salvation (Deut 32:39; Isa 43:10–11, 25; 45:18, 19; 46:4; 47:8, 10; 51:12).

  • Defiant use of the expression

    • Zeph 2:15 – This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, "I am, and there is no one else." What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.

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