Jesus and His God

Did Jesus Claim to Be God in John 8:58? John 8:58 is often cited as a decisive proof that Jesus claimed to be God. Most translations render Jesus’ words as: “Before Abraham was, I am.” Popular apologists such as Matt Slick (in 100 Truths About Jesus ) and Walter Martin ( Kingdom of the Cults , 2003 ed., p. 107) argue that Jesus’ statement directly identifies Him as Jehovah of Exodus 3:14. But is that what Jesus meant? Or is this interpretation being read into the text? Jesus and Jehovah in Scripture Throughout the Bible, Jehovah (Yahweh) is consistently presented as the God of Jesus —the only true God. Jesus worships Him, prays to Him, obeys Him, and is sent by Him. Scripture never depicts Jesus as the Supreme Being whom He Himself serves. Key passages affirm this relationship: Deuteronomy 18:15–19; Matthew 4:4, 7, 10; Matthew 22:29–40; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 27:46; Mark 14:36; Luke 22:42; John 5:30; 6:38; 17:1–3; 20:17; Romans 15:6; Ephesians 1:3,17; Hebrews 1:9; 1 Peter 1:3; Re...

In this presentation, unless otherwise noted, the  World English Bible  World English Bible version will be quoted. In Exodus 3:13-15, we first read a question that Moses presented to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:6), and then the response to that question: Exodus 3:13 When I come to the children of Israel, and tell them, “The God of your fathers [ Exodus 3:6 ] has sent me to you;” and they ask me, “What is his name?” What should I tell them? Let us now read Jehovah’s response to that question: Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM [EHJEH ASHER EHJEH],” and he said, “You shall tell the children of Israel this: ‘I AM [EHJEH] has sent me to you.'” Then Ehyeh identifies Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Exodus 3:15 God said moreover to Moses, “You shall tell the children of Israel this, ‘Yahweh [Jehovah], the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is...