Bible Questions?

I didn't know he said "I am" in the garden too. I've always read the NIV translation which usually has Jesus saying "It is I" which changes the meaning. Thanks.

Also,
"When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will realize that I am" John 8:28.

 

I'm asking the question. I'm still learning so I'm not exactly sure what I believe yet.

These discussions are very helpful.

 

Thanx, just wondering which viewpoint to answer to.

Another question for you, the phrase "I am" is used about 1500 times in the Bible, depending on which translation you use, so would you say that who ever uses that phrase is calling himself God or does that only apply to Jesus when he uses it?

 

This is pretty much the gambit on Jesus and "I am." In none of them does he say that he is God.

The verse you mentioned in context

As you can see, when read in context, Jesus is telling them that he is sent here as our judge by God. In the first verse (15) he's telling them that he judges nobody until they physically die. We have a lifetime to get it right. And in that same beautiful verse he's showing them the difference between how men judge men and "THE JUDGMENT" which he will bring.

Here he is delineating the difference between him and God. In fact he keeps repeating "the Father that sent me." Along with revealing one of his tasks in that role. The judge.

Culminating in the verse your having trouble with, which is a conformation of the previous stuff.

Now you can see that he's telling them that...

1. He was sent by God

2. He will judge us.

3. Verse (24) is telling them (US) that if they don't believe that he was sent by God and that he will judge us, then they (WE) ain't gonna make it.

This is where Jesus points out that we must BELIEVE the he is the son of God.

Hope this helps.
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but isnt " I am that I am " the name of God? so I would see why JC calleds himself that....... I mean his not ALWAYS going to say " I am that I am".

 

Sorry I never claimed to be a master theologian as you must be.

Perhaps you can give an example of what you would consider a mature question?

 

The one of Jesus in the garden in John was more of an oddity. i ma not sure with it. Do you have an idea why the authorities fell down when Jesus spoke?

The Abraham one I am more inclined to believe. I have not read the Greek, but It seems pretty clear to me.

I did not mean to insinuate that every "I am" statement means Jesus was claiming to be God or any time anyone says "I am" means they speak blasphemy.

In terms of another oddity, this is more of a neutral brain teaser. In John 8:48 the Jews accuse Jesus of being a Samaritan and/or demon possessed. Jesus says he is not demon possessed, but does not deny the Samaritan charge nor do the Jews pick up on it again). Do you have any thoughts?

 

Oh snap!

Don'y worry, I've enjoyed your questions...

 

OWB (and anyone else):

1 Corinthains 11:27 (DRV) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord.

I am curious what this verse means. It has been used before as a justification pointing to the Real Presence in the Eucharist. Feel free to go beyond this verse in the chapter in justification of your answer.

 

No, but the way Jesus uses it gives it gravity. For example, he says "I am, do not be afraid" It doesn't say who he is just I am.

Here's a question for you. Since Jesus is the Word of God. Was he the voice coming from the burning bush?

Right now I'm leaning toward Jesus being the trancendent, eternal Word of YHWH in human form.

 

No, "I am that I am" is not the name of god. It is merely a discription of what God is going to do for the people of Israel. Basicly God tells Moses to tell the people that I am the God that will be there for you.

 

I didn't say any such thing about myself nor did I say that you had to be. Although I have enjoyed the questions asked, even though some have been asked several times, it was merely a statement about the level of most the questions so far in this thread. I had hoped that some would be a little deeper in their reach, that's all. Not even a complaint, just a comment about the thread so far.

Here are a few I would consider more mature questions:
Did Abel know that an animal sacrifice was needed to gain God’s favor?
What is God’s “book of life,” and how can my name be written in it and kept there?
Jesus said: “If you forgive the sins of any persons, they stand forgiven to them; if you retain those of any persons, they stand retained.” Do these words mean that Christians can forgive sins?
Does the eating of the loaves of presentation by David and his men indicate that God’s law can be broken with impunity under difficult circumstances?
What did Jesus do “to prepare a place” in heaven for his followers?

Even Ukr-Cdn's question about 1 Corinthains 11:27 is a pretty mature question.

 

Some thoughts on “I AM” being a name of God.

Many consider God to have many names, among these ’Adho·nai′, ’Elo·him′ and ’Eh·yeh′ ’Asher′ ’Eh·yeh′ (I am that I am).

Interestingly the Jew only applied Exodus 20:7; “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” to one of those “names”. (extra bonus points for anyone who can say why LORD is in all capital letters in the scripture cited)

The name that the Jew applied it to is the Tetragrammaton, הוהי or YHWH. This would seem to indicate that the Jews, who understood the Hebrew of the bible better than anyone else, did not consider anything other than הוהי to be the name of God and in fact became so superstitious about it they stopped pronouncing it altogether. (a hint to the bonus points above)

So by saying “I am” it doesn’t seem that Jesus was saying I am God, seeing as “I am” does not appear to be the name of God.

PS Ukr-Cdn as for why they fell down when Jesus said; "I am" perhaps they were just stunned to be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, when he stepped forward and said; "I am" .

 

Also some thoughts on the trinity, the Bible either teaches it or it doesn’t.

You can decide which for yourself but one of the reasons I don’t believe the Bible teaches the trinity is that it makes the Bible so complicated.

For instance this Scripture: . . .Who do you claim to be?” Jesus answered: “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father that glorifies me, he who YOU say is YOUR God; and yet YOU have not known him. But I know him. And if I said I do not know him I should be like YOU, a liar. But I do know him and am observing his word. (John 8:53-55)

Now if there is no trinity this Scripture is pretty straight forward. Jesus says that his glory is nothing but only has glory because his Father glorifies him. Jesus says this Father is the God they say they worship, the one that has glorified him. Jesus says he knows God but that the Jews don’t him. Why does Jesus know God because Jesus is observing God’s word.

Now I don’t know what Trinitarians say this Scriptures says but even trying to figure out how Jesus who is God or at least equal to God does not have any glory of his own and needs himself or at least part of himself to give him glory, boggles the mind. Also is Jesus saying that he knows himself or at least part of himself that is the Father and why does Jesus say he knows the Father because he is observing his word? Does that mean that Jesus knows himself because he observes his own word?

This is just one Scripture that seems easy to understand if you don’t believe in the trinity but becomes convoluted if you believe in the trinity and this is just one of many. I mean if you believe in the trinity this is the sort of thing you have to do all the time. Maybe I’m just lazy but I don’t think God would put you through this.

 

Although the Bible doesn't say, many believe that he was that voice.

 

I too have enjoyed all the questions and some have been extremely insightful.

 

so its not offensive when once says " I am that I am" ?

 

I believe the Scripture you cited is actually 1 Corinthians 11:29 but anyway, it does not in of it's self tell whether the Bread and Wine has been changed into the actual body and blood of Christ. Whether it has or not, "discerning the body of the Lord" could be a call to meditate on what Jesus has done and not just a call for us to realize that the bread and wine is now real flesh and blood.

 

Popeye does it all the time; "I am what I am and it's all what I am"

 

What is gods book of life?