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THE NATURE OF GOD AND CHRISTDoctrinal Study PaperBiblical Commentary, which states, “I AM that I AM, literally means ‘the One Who AlwaysIs.’” 3 There is no question that the Jews were very familiar with the meaning and significance ofthe name “I AM THAT I AM.”In the discourse Jesus had with the Jews, as recorded in John 8, He refers to Himself aspreexisting Abraham. Jesus stated the fact that the Jews had never really known the Father andthat He had come to reveal Him. The Jews ask, “‘Where is Your Father?’ Jesus answered, ‘Youknow neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also’”(John 8:19). Yet Jesus informed them earlier, “I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sentMe. It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true” (John 8:16-17). Thus Hedistinguishes Himself from the Father and affirms that the testimony that He bears is from twodistinct beings.As the discussion continues, it gets more intense, Jesus tells them that they are of theirfather, Satan the devil. They insist that Abraham is their Father. Jesus then introduces the idea ofeternal life, “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death”(John 8:51). The Jews are very disturbed by Jesus’ assertion. They note that Abraham and theprophets are dead and they ask, “Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? Andthe prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?” (John 8:53). Jesus tells them thatHe is not honoring Himself, “It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is yourGod. Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shallbe a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word” (John 8:54-55). The stage is now setfor the great bombshell.Jesus then asserts that Abraham rejoiced to see His day. The Jews are infuriated by thisassertion and ask Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” (John8:57). Then Jesus drops the bomb, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM”(John 8:58). The Jews knew exactly what He was saying. They knew that Jesus was boldlyproclaiming that He is eternal and that He is the Son of God. This is why they took up stones tokill Him. In their minds He was guilty of blasphemy.In the book of Revelation, John is commanded to write, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,the Beginning and the End,’ says the Lord, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, theAlmighty’” (Revelation 1:8). There is no question that Jesus Christ is also the “I AM.” This isnot to say that God the Father is not also the “I AM.” But it is to say that the Gospel of John,especially John 1:1, and the book of Revelation demonstrate the coeternity of God the Father andthe one who is now sitting as His right hand, the living Word of God, Jesus Christ.However, there are some exegetes who contend that the phrase “I am the Alpha and theOmega” in Revelation 1:8 is referring to God the Father and not to Jesus Christ. While there issome debate among commentators whether verse 8 refers to the Father or to Christ, mostcommentaries (including Jamieson, Fausset and Brown; Darby; Matthew Henry; and JohnWalvoord) attribute the term “I am the Alpha and the Omega” in Revelation 1:8 to Christ. Thecontextual and internal evidence show that verse 8 is clearly referring to Jesus Christ. The3 John I. Durham, Word Biblical Commentary, 1987, Vol. 3, “Exodus,” p. 39.Page 7September 2005© 2005 United Church of God, an International Association