I Am Research Paper Essay Example
Liberty University
“I AM”
BIBL323_B04_201130
Professor Joseph M. Pendley
1 July 2011
2
When I started researching books for this paper, I had no idea what I was in for. It seemed as if most of the books I found had nothing to say about the “I AM” statements made by Jesus. Most just referenced His deity and the miracles He performed. Then I remembered the statement made by Elmer Towns books; The Gospel of John: Believe and Live, where he said “Seven times John records Jesus saying, “I am…,” attached it to a metaphor. These seven statements give special insight into who Christ claimed to be. Christ was doing more than stating a metaphor – saying He was the bread, a light, or a good shepherd; He was identifying Himself with Jehovah of the Old Testament.” 1 This statement made me look back at the questions asked for this paper and helped me to refine my search. After listing the seven “I AM” statements made by Jesus in the book of John, I will break them down into different paragraphs and try reference: 1. The events that surround the statement. 2. How the statement relates to God as revealed in the Old Testament. 3. How the statement reveals the deity of Christ.
The seven “I AM’s” of Jesus are: 1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35) 2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12) 3. I am the door (John 10:9) 4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11) 5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) 6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6) 7. I am the vine (John 15:5)
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1. Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John: Believe and Live (Scofield Ministries, 2002), XIV. 3
I am the bread of life In the Gospel according to St. John; Brooke Foss Westcott references Jesus’ “I AM” statement in John chapter 6:35 to the tree, water and fountain of life. “The bread of life, the food which
“I AM”
BIBL323_B04_201130
Professor Joseph M. Pendley
1 July 2011
2
When I started researching books for this paper, I had no idea what I was in for. It seemed as if most of the books I found had nothing to say about the “I AM” statements made by Jesus. Most just referenced His deity and the miracles He performed. Then I remembered the statement made by Elmer Towns books; The Gospel of John: Believe and Live, where he said “Seven times John records Jesus saying, “I am…,” attached it to a metaphor. These seven statements give special insight into who Christ claimed to be. Christ was doing more than stating a metaphor – saying He was the bread, a light, or a good shepherd; He was identifying Himself with Jehovah of the Old Testament.” 1 This statement made me look back at the questions asked for this paper and helped me to refine my search. After listing the seven “I AM” statements made by Jesus in the book of John, I will break them down into different paragraphs and try reference: 1. The events that surround the statement. 2. How the statement relates to God as revealed in the Old Testament. 3. How the statement reveals the deity of Christ.
The seven “I AM’s” of Jesus are: 1. I am the bread of life (John 6:35) 2. I am the light of the world (John 8:12) 3. I am the door (John 10:9) 4. I am the good shepherd (John 10:11) 5. I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25) 6. I am the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6) 7. I am the vine (John 15:5)
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__________________
1. Elmer Towns, The Gospel of John: Believe and Live (Scofield Ministries, 2002), XIV. 3
I am the bread of life In the Gospel according to St. John; Brooke Foss Westcott references Jesus’ “I AM” statement in John chapter 6:35 to the tree, water and fountain of life. “The bread of life, the food which