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Exodus and John #2 – To Reveal God as I Am
Even the very special way that God revealed Himself to the Israelites is repeated throughout John. When Moses came to investigate the burning bush, God told him to remove his sandals and revealed to him Who He was:
- Exodus 3:14 HCSB God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”
Throughout the gospel of John we find the seven “I Am” statements (John 6:35,41,48,51; 8:12; 9:5; 10:7; 10:11,14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1,5):
- I Am the Bread of Life (John 6:35,41,48,51)
- I Am the Light of the World (John 8:12; 9:5)
- I Am the Door (John 10:7)
- I Am the Good Shepherd (John 10:11,14)
- I Am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25)
- I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6)
- I am the True Vine (John 15:1,5)
Just as “in the beginning” is unique to Genesis and John, so is God’s revelation as “I Am” solely in Exodus and John. But John does more than just the “I Am” statements. He has Jesus revealing Himself, “I Am.”
- John 4:26 HCSB “I am He,” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.” (“He” is not in the Greek)
- John 8:24 HCSB Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (“He” is not in the Greek).
- John 8:28 HCSB So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own. But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. (“He” is not in the Greek).
- John 8:58 HCSB Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”
- John 13:13 HCSB You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am.
- John 13:19 HCSB “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. (“He” is not in the Greek).
- John 18:5-8 HCSB “Jesus the Nazarene,” they answered. “I am He,” Jesus told them. Judas, who betrayed Him, was also standing with them. (6) When He told them, “I am He,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. (7) Then He asked them again, “Who is it you’re looking for?” “Jesus the Nazarene,” they said. (8) “I told you I am He,” Jesus replied. “So if you’re looking for Me, let these men go.” (“He” is not in the Greek).
Great post, and great site. Our pastor was just sharing this weekend about how amazing the Gospel of John is–how John can state things so simply for the new reader, yet have such deep truths for those who study over it for years. In the end, that is how Jesus is to us. Little children can come to Him in such simplicity, yet old scholars meet Him and find they must be born again to understand Him even better.
I love the HCSB, including most of the 2009 updates, but I am sad that the brackets have gone away. I know that not everyone thinks they belong in an optimal equivalence translation, but the way i see it, the HCSB has proven it’s dynamic English with contractions, smooth flowing sentences, etc. However, the brackets helped to highlight its literalness compared to the NASB, ESV, etc. The best of both worlds. In a case like this, the brackets in John’s verses would help it to say:
John 4:26 HCSB “I am [He],” Jesus told her, “the One speaking to you.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, [he is] a new creation…”
The brackets in John 4:26 help to show Jesus’ claim to be “I AM” much clearer, and in 2 Cor 5:17 it helps to keep the option open between the 2003 edition: “[There is] a new creation…” and the 2009 edition: “[He is] a new creation…”
[By the way, the actual HCSB printed brackets are only half brackets and way less intrusive than the full brackets that I have included above.] They don’t get too much in the way, but they can make a world of difference when studying the literalness of the text. Is it worth loving and challenging our amazing friends at Holman about this? What does anyone else think…
Jordan, I too wish the HCSB would retain all the brackets even though it is an Optimal Equivalent translation because it helps the average, non-Greek reading student. To me, showing when a word is added, is simply being honest.
I am confident that the HCSB translation team has thought about this issue quite a bit, prayed about it, debated it, listen to lots of people on both sides about it. But I wonder what it would take, if it is even possible, to re-open the discussion?
If you are interested, I have started comparing on this blog the NASB vs. HCSB vs. ESV. I have so far done Genesis through Leviticus. I am sure there are more comments that could be made but the review is helpful to me and hopefully others.
That is how I initially found out about this site, and I have enjoyed the honest, open comparisons. I still wish I could plead the bracket case to the HCSB without seeming unappreciative of an amazing translation. I am trying to remember if it was Dr. Farstad who wanted the brackets, and if Dr. Blum did not care as much for them. I remember Dr. Blum mentioning the bracket debate in his 2009 update interviews…