AbuTwins:
■ In summary, while the "I am" sayings in the Gospel of John provide valuable insights into the theological perspectives of the early Christian community, their direct connection to the historical Jesus is a matter of scholarly debate. The unique theological emphasis and literary style of the Gospel of John suggest that these sayings may reflect the beliefs and interpretations of the Johannine community rather than verbatim statements spoken by Jesus during his ministry.

29. I am gentle and humble in spirit. - Matthew 11:29

Yes, if two or three people are together believing in me, I am there with them.” - Matthew 18:20

14 Jesus called the people to him again. He said, “Everyone should listen to me and understand what I am saying. - Mark 7:14

32 But after I am killed, I will rise from death. - Matthew 26:32

28 But after I am killed, I will rise from death. Then I will go to Galilee. I will be there before you come.” - Mark 14:28

62 Jesus answered, “Yes, I am the Son of God. And in the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right side of God All-Powerful. And you will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven.” - Mark 14:62

13 Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He said to his followers, “Who do people say I am ?”
14 They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
15 Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
17 Jesus answered, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah. No one taught you that. My Father in heaven showed you who I am. - Matthew 16: 13 - 17

27 Jesus and his followers went to the towns in the area of Caesarea Philippi. While they were traveling, Jesus asked the followers, “Who do people say I am?”
28 They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And others say you are one of the prophets.”
29 Then Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
30 Jesus told the followers, “Don’t tell anyone who I am.” - Mark 8:27 - 30

18 One time Jesus was praying alone. His followers came together there, and he asked them, “Who do the people say I am?”
19 They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some people say you are one of the prophets from long ago that has come back to life.”
20 Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah from God.”
21 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone. - Luke 9:18 - 20

3 “You can go now. But listen! I am sending you, and you will be like sheep among wolves. - Luke 10:3

32 Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out of people and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, the work will be finished.’ - Luke 13:32

19. Then he took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke off some pieces, gave them to the apostles and said, “This bread is my body that I am giving for you. Eat this to remember me.” - Luke 22:19

Kobojunkie:
▶ Below are I am claims made by Jesus Christ that are recorded in the other Gospels!
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

AbuTwins:
■ If you'd open your eyes well you'd have seen the type of "I am" verses in John is special. The "I am" sayings in the Gospel of John are significant statements where Jesus uses the phrase "I am" followed by a metaphorical description, such as "I am the bread of life" or "I am the light of the world." These statements are unique to the Gospel of John and are not found in the other Gospels. Emphasis on "I am" followed by a metaphor!
■ Even in John I didn't include " Before Abraham, I am! Because it's not followed by a metaphor!

Kobojunkie:
Jesus is equally recorded in the other Gospels as using similar significant statements. "I am the Son of God,", "I am gentle and humble in Spirit,", and " I am forcing demons out of people,"... are equally statements made by Jesus Christ regarding His person and abilities that are recorded in the other gospels.

2. I see! And this insistence that the entries in John's Gospel are followed by the metaphorical is of personal conviction(interpretation) and has nothing to do with that intended by the author, right?

AbuTwins:
■ I think you understand simple English more than I do. "I am" followed by a metaphor shouldn't be too difficult for you to grasp! John's "I am" is not typical of a historical Jesus...

1 The Lord All-Powerful says, “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his temple. Yes, the messenger you are waiting for, the one who will tell about my agreement, is really coming! - Malachi 3 vs 1

Kobojunkie:


The Israelites believe their God bestows on the righteous among them literal immortality(Life), the ability to live forever. They equally believe that their God will literally resurrect the righteous who are dead — sleeping in the grave — from the dead. When Jesus Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the Life, " Jesus Christ literally meant that He is the very resurrection that they are waiting for and He is also the eternal life that the righteous among them receive. When the time of the resurrection arrives, Jesus Christ, the eternal Life of God, is the signal to raise them back to life.

What John said is not of metaphors. Your understanding is what he meant is what is at fault here.

AbuTwins:
■ What is being said is that the historic Jesus never spoke all those "i am" plus metaphor statements. If he did then all the synoptic Gospels should have them and it won't be found only in John! John was written last among the Gospel and it is the most developed and worked on!
■ In the New Testament, passages like Matthew 11:10 and Mark 1:2-3 explicitly connect Malachi 3:1 to John the Baptist and Jesus.

1 The Lord All-Powerful says, “I am sending my messenger to prepare the way for me. Then suddenly, the Lord you are looking for will come to his temple. Yes, the messenger you are waiting for, the one who will tell about my agreement, is really coming! - Malachi 3 vs 1

Kobojunkie:


The Israelites believe their God bestows on the righteous among them literal immortality(Life), the ability to live forever. They equally believe that their God will literally resurrect the righteous who are dead — sleeping in the grave — from the dead. When Jesus Christ said, "I am the resurrection and the Life, " Jesus Christ literally meant that He is the very resurrection that they are waiting for and He is also the eternal life that the righteous among them receive. When the time of the resurrection arrives, Jesus Christ, the eternal Life of God, is the signal to raise them back to life.

What John said is not of metaphors. Your understanding is what he meant is what is at fault here.

triplechoice:
■ If you say the following statements are not metaphoric ; " I'm the light of the world"
■ I'm the bread of life and I'm the resurrection and the life", Please can you explain how Jesus is literally a baked bread?

53 Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that you must eat the body of the Son of Man, and you must drink his blood. If you don’t do this, you have no real life.
54 Those who eat my body and drink my blood have eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day.
55 My body is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56 Those who eat my body and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. - John 6 vs 53 - 56

26 While they were eating, Jesus took some bread and thanked God for it. He broke off some pieces, gave them to his followers and said, “Take this bread and eat it. It is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup of wine, thanked God for it, and gave it to them. He said, “Each one of you drink some of it.
28 This wine is my blood, which will be poured out to forgive the sins of many and begin the new agreement from God to his people.
29 I want you to know, I will not drink this wine again until that day when we are together in my Father’s kingdom and the wine is new. Then I will drink it again with you.” - Matthew 26 vs 26 - 29

Kobojunkie:
Again, the statements written by John were not metaphorical. Jesus Christ was the literal resurrection and the literal Eternal Life that the Israelites were promised by their God. They literally sought to obtain these things and the one who embodied it — and the resurrection and the Life turned flesh — is the one who showed up to the temple and taught them of God's New agreement.

2. Open your eyes! What Matthew 11:10 and Mark 1:2-3 instead connect to the person of John the Baptist is what is written of the messenger to tell about the new agreement. The Lord who showed up to the temple is not John, the Baptist.

AbuTwins:
■ They were metaphorical. Even Jesus allegedly said in John 16:25
"Though I have been speaking figuratively (paroimia), a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. So he spoke figuratively!
Also in Mark 4:10-12 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that," 'they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'
■ Anyways, Jesus wasn't mentioned in the verse! You can say whatever you like.

Kobojunkie:
1. So, Jesus Christ, in all of His teachings, never made any literal claims or statements, and all figurative speech resolves down to just metaphors? Are you for real? 😂😂😂

2. The Lord who showed up in the Temple that they were looking for.... the resurrection and the Life that they sought even through all of their religious foolishness came to the temple... Jesus Christ is the resurrection and the Life they seek, in the flesh!

AbuTwins:
■ I gave you biblical quotes! You are free to call it a lie!
■ Was it only Jesus that showed up in the temple throughout the Bible?

Kobojunkie:
OP's claim is that the all of the "I am" statements in John are metaphorical, and I said they aren't all metaphorical. I haven't examined all of them myself but I have at least shown why way of the one that OP's claim is incorrect. :

To the " I am the bread of Life," statement, examine what Jesus Christ is recorded to have said in the passages below.
....
Jesus Christ broke literal bread and said, “Take this bread and eat it. It is my body.” He equally poured out literal wine and said, "This wine is my blood, which will be poured out to forgive the sins of many and begin the new agreement from God to his people." The same Jesus Christ is recorded to have said that those who eat His body(bread) and drink His blood(wine) will receive His Eternal Life — the life of a man is in His blood. Does this ring as some metaphorical speak to you?

triplechoice:
■The Op ,from what I read, only highlighted the "I am" statements that are metaphorical . He never said all of them is metaphor. You're the one insisting all of them are literally when it's obvious they're not.
■ What's described in the above clearly shows Jesus was making a comparison between himself and something not human, bread, to drive home a point So it was clear he was expressing himself figuratively and not literally as you think. Or you don't know what a metaphor is?
A metaphor is a direct comparison between two unlike objects in order to bring out the similarities which exist between them.
In the bread metaphor, Jesus was making a comparison between himself a stable food which most people can't do without. I hope by this, you can now see the point of the comparison .

author=Kobojunkie post=129968050]

▶ To the " I am the bread of Life," statement, let's examine what Jesus Christ is recorded to have said in the passages below.

Jesus Christ broke literal bread and said, “Take this bread and eat it. It is my body.” He equally poured out literal wine and said, "This wine is my blood, which will be poured out to forgive the sins of many and begin the new agreement from God to his people." The same Jesus Christ is recorded to have said that those who eat His body(bread) and drink His blood(wine) will receive His Eternal Life — the life of a man is in His blood. Hence, the bread of Life is essentially the literal bread you eat that Jesus Christ is His body. :- :- : Does this ring as some metaphorical speak to you?

Kobojunkie:
1. Like I said, I hadn't examined them all but I was sure and made clear that the statements from John He posted were not all metaphorical. Simple!

2. Huh? Jesus Christ was making a comparison between himself and stable food? Are you for real? Never mind...

SIRTee15:
AbuTwins you definitely copied and pasted this. What U posted up there is definitely beyond your level of intellectual prowess or cognitive theology capacity to dissect.
Its a complete waste of time discussing it with U.
U even brought up Scholastic opinion as if U believe in their expertise as absolute fact.
what do U know about the johanine community, who are they?

This same AbuTwin I showed that scholars believe that the knowledge of the name YHWH pre-existed Moses, he rejected it. But now pushing scholars opinion on 'I am'.
U are a clown

I will advise to stick to simple bible debates like 'why did Jesus not know the hour', 'How can Mary take care of God', or 'how can Jesus be God when he has a God'

Above are things your limited bible knowledge can comprehend and decipher.

Debating advanced theology with U is like attempting to fill up a basket with water.

No offense but U lack depth.

AbuTwins:


After so much directionless and irrational vituperations you can exit the thread! Bye!

Empty vessels makes the most noise!
Go to Yaba left you'll see your mates there to discuss your level of advanced theology!

Tomorrow if you see me on another thread you'll still remember the YHWH we discussed last week! So myopic!

AbuTwins:
The "I am" sayings in the Gospel of John are significant statements where Jesus uses the phrase "I am" followed by a metaphorical description, such as "I am the bread of life" or "I am the light of the world." These statements are unique to the Gospel of John and are not found in the other Gospels.

I am the bread of life (John 6:35)
I am the light of the world (John 8:12)
I am the gate for the sheep (John 10:7)
I am the good shepherd (John 10:11)
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)

In terms of modern scholarship and research, there is ongoing debate about whether these "I am" sayings can be directly traced back to the historical Jesus, considering that the Gospel of John was written later than the other Gospels. Here are some key points to consider:

- **Scholarly Views**: Some scholars argue that the "I am" sayings in John represent theological reflections and interpretations by the Johannine community rather than direct quotes from Jesus. They view these statements as a literary device used by the author of John to convey theological truths about Jesus.

- **Historical Authenticity**: Due to the unique nature of these sayings in the Gospel of John and the theological themes they emphasize, some scholars are cautious about attributing them directly to the historical Jesus. They suggest that these sayings may reflect the beliefs and teachings of the early Christian community that developed over time.

- **Contextual Considerations**: The Gospel of John is known for its distinctive theological and literary style compared to the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). The "I am" sayings play a central role in John's presentation of Jesus as the divine Son of God, which differs from the portrayal in the other Gospels.

In summary, while the "I am" sayings in the Gospel of John provide valuable insights into the theological perspectives of the early Christian community, their direct connection to the historical Jesus is a matter of scholarly debate. The unique theological emphasis and literary style of the Gospel of John suggest that these sayings may reflect the beliefs and interpretations of the Johannine community rather than verbatim statements spoken by Jesus during his ministry.

Kobojunkie:
▶ Below are I am claims made by Jesus Christ that are recorded in the other Gospels!



...
...
...
...All these illustrations are good but where the word is used uniquely is not as explained by the OP



John.8.56 - Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John.8.57 - Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
John.8.58 - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John.8.59 - Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

...
...
...
...
...
...
...

MightySparrow:
Mightysparrow

AbuTwins:


Kindly try and read well or better open your eyes!

"I am" followed by a metaphor!

MightySparrow:
...All these illustrations are good but where the word is used uniquely is not as explained by the OP
John.8.56 - Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
John.8.57 - Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
John.8.58 - Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John.8.59 - Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

MightySparrow:


How?

AbuTwins:


Put on your thinking cap!

MightySparrow:


Take up your brain from where you kept it.
It is like wisdom is chasing you.

Kobojunkie:
This is nothing to do with this, I am afraid.

MightySparrow:


My brother, I am not criticizing you. Please when you are dealing with these Islamic bigots , I have been watching them since the days of Ahmed Deedat, Ajagbemokenferi, now one clown Adepoju, Zakir Naik, Shabby Ali and a host of stupid people like that.
I like to point out their stupidity .


Please forgive me if I sound rude.

AbuTwins:


Too many people with low IQ around!
The "I am" statements should be followed by a metaphor!