John 8:58

Ἀμὴν�. For the third time in this discourse (John 8:34; John 8:51) Jesus uses this asseveration. Having answered the charge of self-glorification (John 8:54-55), and shewn that Abraham was on His side not theirs (John 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 John 1:1; John 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. John 8:24; John 8:28; Revelation 1:4; Revelation 1:8; and see on John 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, Psalms 90:2; Psalms 102:27.