Before Abraham Was, I Am

In a tense debate in the temple, Jesus said that Abraham had rejoiced to see his day. His hearers scoffed, 'Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?' Jesus answered, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.' He did not say 'I was' but 'I am,' echoing the name God revealed to Moses at the burning bush, 'I AM THAT I AM.' His listeners understood it as a claim to eternal, divine existence and took up stones to cast at him. Unlike the seven 'I am' sayings joined to images such as bread or light, this one stands alone.

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Strongest connections in Scripture

John 8 Exodus 3

Key Passages

Before Abraham Was, I Am

John 8:56-59

Jesus claims an existence before Abraham, using the very words of God's self-revelation.

Y⁵⁶our father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

⁵⁷ Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? ⁵⁸ Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. ⁵⁹ Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

I AM Hath Sent Me

Exodus 3:13-14

At the burning bush God reveals his name to Moses as I AM THAT I AM.

A¹³nd Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?