Jesus is not " I am who I say I am."
Jesus is not " I am who I say I am."
There is a misconception that because Jesus said "I am" that makes him God like Yahweh in Exodus 3 (egō eimi ho ōn). Below I will demonstrate how that isn't correct.
Jesus said, egō eimi (“I am”) in John 8:58, the man who had been born blind identified himself by saying exactly what Jesus said; egō eimi (“I am” John 9:9). Also, Paul and Asahel does the same as well.
John 9:8-9 English Standard Version 8 The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”
Acts 26:29 English Standard Version29 And Paul said, “Whether short or long, I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am—except for these chains.”
2 Samuel 2:20 English Standard Version 20 Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.”
These examples don't make one God or a god.
Here are similar constructions-not ego eimi
1 Samuel 16:12 English Standard Version 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.”
Zechariah 6:13 English Standard Version 13 It is he who shall build the temple of the Lord and shall bear royal honor, and shall sit and rule on his throne. And there shall be a priest on his throne, and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.”
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Jesus is saying "I am he" the Messiah- the prophesied one. Different translations shows this bias.
Greek Septuagint and the Greek New Testament:
Exodus 3:14: And God said to Moses: “I am (εγω ειμι-ego eimi) the one who is (ο ων-ho on).” … ‘You are to tell the children of Israel this: “The one who is (ο ων) has sent me to you.’”
John 8:58: Before Abraham was, I am (εγω ειμι, “egō eimi”).
Problem one-Jesus does not quote the full divine name. It does not read "I am who I am". That's a very crucial difference.
Problem two-Jesus quotes the wrong half of the divine name.
A careful reading shows that Yahweh uses a shorter name in Exodus 3:14. “The one who is (ο ων ) has sent me to you.’
The Septuagint translators do not use “egō eimi” in Exodus 3, instead they use ο ων.
Jesus never uses "ο ων" to identify himself.
As a result, Jesus does not use the complete name or partial name of Yahweh.
Some critics even use Isaiah 45 to justify their point. The word "AM" in Isaiah 45:6, 7, 18, 19, 22, is missing from the original Hebrew.
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John 8:58 can be interpreted in at least two other ways.
Before Abraham I was the one Messiah prophesied.
The second interpretation can be that Jesus was going to be resurrected before Father Abraham which was a very important figure to the Jews.
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John 18:4-8 English Standard Version 4 Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I AM HE.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. 6 When Jesus said to them, “I AM HE” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 So he asked them again, “WHOM DO YOU SEEK?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” 8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I AM HE. So, if you SEEK ME, let these men go.”
Acts 10:21 King James Version 21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I AM HE WHOM YE SEEK: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?
NOTE: This doesn't make Peter God.
************************************************************************** Which Soldiers bowed down to Jesus in John 18:3-6?
John 18:3-6 Verse 3 (Only the NASB, LSB, NLT, Good News, and amplified translations) says Roman cohort. This is not found in the other translations. Other translations has BAND. Band can be referred to a Jewish group. See 2 Maccabees 8:23 and Judith 14:11.
2 Maccabees 8:23King James Version Also he appointed Eleazar to read the holy book: and when he had given them this watchword, The help of God; himself leading the first BAND
Judith 14:11 King James Version And as soon as the morning arose, they hanged the head of Holofernes upon the wall, and every man took his weapons, and they went forth by BANDS unto the straits of the mountain.
Further proof can be found in Luke 24:52-53, Matthew 26:47, Mark 14:43, Luke 22:47, and John 7:32,40-48 (emphasis on verse 45). There is no mention of Roman soldiers. In fact, there was a huge tension between Jews and Romans. Romans soldiers were not at the service of Jews/ Pharisees. The Jewish soldiers were supposed to arrest Jesus the first time, but missed the opportunity in John 7:40-48.
With John 7:40-48 in mind, it makes sense that the Jews fell back and bowed down to Jesus because it was a fearful thing to put hands on the Anoited One/Messiah/Christ. Saul, David, and Cyrus were considered an Anoited one/Messiah/and Christ figure- 1 Samuel 24:6,24:10, 26:9, 26:11, 26:16,26: 23; 2 Samuel 1:14,1:16. There is nothing special about Jesus saying "I am." Nobody fell down in Matthew 14:27 and John 4:25-26 when ego eimi is used.
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