A SUMMARY OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING EGW EIMI IN JOHN 8:58
Lemuel G. Abarte
lemuel at bcd.weblinq.com
Thu Sep 3 10:57:38 EDT 1998
Greg,
What I am trying to point out is that in John 8, EGW EIMI seems to be a title. This is mentioned in John 8:24 in the HOTI clause.
Why would Jesus use this phrase? I don't think that it is merely a summary of what was explained in John 8:23: EGW EK TWN ANW EIMI... EGW OUK EIMI EK TOU KOSMOU TOUTOU.
EGW EIMI looks like a title applied to the origin and prior existence of the Person of Jesus Christ (John 8:23,24,58). But more so, it is likely a title that could only have references to the Old Testament Scriptures, since He is speaking to a Jewish crowd.
The culmination of the discourse in the temple is quite clear that He is applying the title with an understanding that the name is the Tetragrammaton of the Old Testament. It identifies Him with Deity.
I don't want to be theological here, but it looks like that the theology has to be considered.
Lemuel
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