Jesus as God
Before Abraham Was, I Am
The dispute explicitly concerns whether Jesus can be greater than Abraham and the prophets, all of whom died.
How this passage contributes to the case:
The labels below identify the kinds of evidence for Jesus' divinity found in this passage.
Select a label for an explanation.
Divine Identity
Divine Names and Titles
Divine Attributes
Pre-existence
Uses Divine Name
Claims Eternal Existence
Grants Salvation
Strength of evidence: Strong.
This passage provides substantial evidence relevant to Jesus' divine identity when read in its literary and historical context.
James Tissot — Life of Christ
Scripture
What Was Said or Done
Jesus says Abraham rejoiced to see his day and concludes, 'Before Abraham was, I am.'
Historical and Cultural Context
Divine self-identification in Exodus and Isaiah provides background, while Abraham marks the remote patriarchal past.
Old Testament Background
Exodus 3:14; Isaiah 43:10; Genesis 12:1-3 are important backgrounds.
Exposition
Jesus contrasts Abraham's coming into existence with his own present-tense 'I am.' In the context of the Prologue and the preceding absolute sayings, the statement reaches beyond ordinary pre-existence.
Why This Points to His Divinity
This is among John's strongest sayings for Jesus' transcendent and eternal identity. The argument does not depend on claiming that every occurrence of ego eimi is a divine-name formula.
Response of the Hearers
The hearers pick up stones to throw at Jesus.