What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Before Abraham Was Born, I Am’?
In the Gospel of John, chapter 8, verse 58, Jesus says while arguing with the Jews, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” This sentence has become one of the most controversial sentences in the Bible.
Divine interpretation:
Some Christians believe that this sentence is proof of Jesus’ divinity. “I am” is the name given to God in the Bible (eg, Exodus 3:14). By saying this, Jesus equates himself with God.
Interpretation of preexistence:
Others believe that this sentence refers to the preexistence of Jesus. In the sense that Jesus existed as a spiritual being before the birth of Abraham.
Metaphorical interpretation:
Others interpret this sentence as a metaphor. In the sense that Jesus says that through his teachings and actions, he carries the legacy of Abraham and the fathers of Israel.
Who is Abraham in the Bible?
So, who was Abraham? Abraham was born in Ur of the Chaldeans, which is now Iraq. God asked Abraham to leave his large family and travel to a distant land, a land that God was giving him.
God also promised Abraham that he would have countless children and be a blessing to the whole world.
Jews see themselves as the fulfillment of that promise of countless children. All Jews trace their ethnicity back to Abraham (John 8:33). He is literally their father (John 8:39).
The only serious contenders for Abraham’s pre-eminent position among the Jews were Moses, the lawgiver and founder of the nation, and David, the ideal king who awaited his return. But Abraham was the source of all of them. He was their grandfather.
Therefore, when the religious leaders compared Jesus to Abraham, they considered Jesus to be second. But Jesus claimed the exact opposite.
Abraham longed to see Jesus and was happy when he saw him (John 8:56).
And Jesus not only claimed to be greater than Abraham, but He claimed to have existed in Abraham’s lifetime. Jesus said: “Before Abraham was born, I was.”
Jesus’ use of the term “I am” in the Gospel of John
Jesus’ use of the phrase “I am” is one of the things that is repeatedly narrated in the Gospel of John. Jesus says:
I am he (the promised Messiah) (John 4:26).
I am the bread of life (John 6:35).
I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5).
I am he (the Son of Man) (John 8:28).
Before Abraham was born, I am (John 8:58).
I am among the sheep (John 10:7).
I am the good shepherd (John 11:10).
I am the son of God (John 10:36).
I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25).
I am that (teacher and God) (Gospel of John 13:13).
I am who I am (John 13:19).
I am the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
I am the true vine (John 15:1, 5).
I am he (the one they came to arrest) (John 18:5, 6, 8).
I am the king (in response to Pilate) (John 18:37).
The frequent use of this phrase is not a mere coincidence. It is used very deliberately to make a claim about who Jesus is. This sentence is of great importance because of its connection with issues such as the divinity of Jesus, his preexistence, and his relationship with Judaism.
Today in the article : What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Before Abraham Was Born, I Am’? We reviewed useful information about the Bible and the way of Jesus. If you wish, you can view other articles of Ali Vahidi about Christianity
