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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadCambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges - John 8:58 - 8:58
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58. Ἀμὴν ἀμήν. For the third time in this discourse (Joh 8:34; Joh 8:51) Jesus uses this asseveration. Having answered the charge of self-glorification (Joh 8:54-55), and shewn that Abraham was on His side not theirs (Joh 8:57), He now solemnly declares His superiority to him.
πρὶν' Αβρ. γ. ἐγώ εἰμι. Here A.V. has lamentably gone back from earlier translations. Cranmer has, ‘Ere Abraham was born, I am,’ perhaps following Erasmus’ Antequam nasceretur A., Ego sum; and the Rhemish has, ‘Before that Abraham was made, I am,’ following the Vulgate, Antequam Abraham fieret, Ego sum. See notes on ἦν in Joh 1:1; Joh 1:6. ‘I am,’ denotes absolute existence, and in this passage clearly involves the pre-existence and Divinity of Christ, as the Jews see. Comp. Joh 8:24; Joh 8:28; Rev 1:4; Rev 1:8; and see on Joh 8:24. ‘I was’ would have been less comprehensive, and need not have meant more than that Christ was prior to Abraham. In O.T. we have the same thought, πρὸ τοῦ ὄρη γενηθῆναι … σὺ εἶ, Psa 90:2; Psa 102:27.