Final I Am The True Vine with Revisions

I AM The True Vine Amy A. Taylor RLGN 301- Research and Writing for Religious Disciplines June 20, 2023

1 Within the Gospel of John, there exists seven significant “I AM” statements: I Am the Bread of Life, I Am the Light of the World, I Am the Door, I Am the Good Shepherd, I Am the Resurrection and , I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life , and I Am the True Vine. Author, John C. Hutchinson, states declares this about the I AM Am statements: “The unique presence of these statements in John’s Gospel provides great incentive to investigate their meaning and John’s purpose in including them.” (1) 1 Among them, one stands out as a powerful embodiment of Jesus’ diving divine nature and his His pivotal role in humanity’s salvation- the declaration, “ I Am the True Vine . ”. In the book, Approaching the New Testament , chapter author, Cara L.T. Murphy , author, expresses that the statement, “ I Am the True Vine , ”, “…reinforces his message of deity using metaphor and vivid imagery, asking for the kind of belief that fosters intimate depth.” (2) 2 Therefore, it is important to understand the meaning , and significance , of “I Am” and the deity behind why Jesus called himself Himself the True Vine. In the Jesus’ statement, “ I Am the True Vine , reflects Jesus’ ”, in John 15:1-8, is a self-declaration of His deity because it provides fulfillment of by pointing out the grammatical similarity of egō eimi (I Am) to YHWH, symbolism by describing Israel as God’s vine in the Old Testament prophesies and symbolism, it , establishes that He is the source of salvation , and that He is the conduit between God and through His divinity, when believers . abide in Him they will produce a life that is obedient to the will of the Father. In Jesus’ own words in John 15:1-17, He explains to His disciples at the Passover meal, using the metaphor of: a vineyard, the vine, branches, fruit, and actions of the vinedresser, are all 1 John C. Hutchinson 2011. “The Vine in John 15 and Old Testament Imagery in the ‘I Am’ Statements.” Bibliotheca Sacra 168 (669): pg . 64. 2 Cara L.T. Murphy “John” in Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students . (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2022) pg. 98.

2 descriptions and imagery of the relationship with the Father and Himself and those who put their faith in Jesus. To understand the meaning, significance, and deity behind why Jesus called himself Himself the True Vine twice in John 15:1 and 5 ; we must first take a deeper look into the definition of the phrase, , it is important to understand the meaning and significance of “ I Am . I Am that Jesus stated ” in the statements declared by Jesus in the Gospel of John . In Greek, egō eimi ( γώ ε μι ἐ ἰ ) is translated to egō eimi ( γώ ε μι). In the ἐ ἰ “I Am”. By Jesus using this grammatical form of “I Am” with a predicate and the article THE, He is signifying the same usage in the Hebrew language , the phrase I Am that is connected to God’s name YHWH ( הוהי ). “The predicate “I am” statements appear with the absolute “I am” statements according to the same pattern as the development of the divine name in the book of Exodus .” 3 In the translation of the Septuagint, Exodus 3:14 (NIV) reads: “ God said to Moses, “I am who I am ( egō eimi ho ōn ) This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I Am ( ehyeh ) have sent me to you.’” 4 While the Greek translation of Exodus 3:14 in the Septuagint is not an identical translation to Jesus’ “ I Am ” ( egō eimi ) statements, it does convey a similar meaning: the eternal existence of YHWH . Numerous Hebrew scholars propose that YHWH carries the meaning of “the one who is.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary describes “ I AM ” as: “ I AM ( ’ehyeh ) has sent me to you (v. 14). This One said He would be with His people in their time of trouble and need. ’Ehyeh is probably a wordplay on Yahweh (Lord) in verse 15. Thus, the name Yahweh, related to the verb “to be,” probably speaks of God’s self-existence, but it means more than that. It usually speaks of His relationship to His people . ” (3) . 5 In John 8:58 , 3 For It Stands in Scripture: Essays in Honor of W. Edward Glenny. 2019. Saint Paul, MN: The University of Northwestern, Bersten Library, Pg. 101. 4 Billy E. Simmons, 1988. “A Christology of the ‘I Am’ Sayings in the Gospel of John.: The Theological Education 38. Pg. 96. 5 John D. Hannah, “Exodus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures , ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), pg. 112.

3 John 8:58 , Jesus says to the Jews, “Before Abraham was, I Am ( γώ ε μι ἐ ἰ ), Jesus attributed himself to ascribed Himself the same name that YHWH used in the Old Testament concerning himself. (1) John C. Hutchinson 2011. “The Vine in John 15 and Old Testament Imagery in the ‘I Am’ Statements.” Bibliotheca Sacra 168 (669): pg. 64. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx? direct=true&db=lsdar&AN=ATLA0001819780&site=ehost-live&scope=site . (2) Cara L.T. Murphy “John” in Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students . (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2022) pg. 98. (3) John D. Hannah, “Exodus,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures , ed. . J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), pg. 112. I n the Septuagint, in Isaiah 41:4 , 43:10, 46:4, Isaiah 41:4 , 43:10, 46:4, “ I Am ” in Hebrew is translated in Hebrew as to ani hu or egō eimi . 6 This is a literally an exact translation to the “ I Am’s ” in John ’s Gospel . The usage of eg ō eimi by Isaiah is a reference for the name of God Himself ( YHWH ). While YHWH embodies exclusive qualities of eternality, self-existence, and changelessness; through Jesus’ identification as Yahweh ( egō eimi ), he affirms his own eternal nature, self-existence, and unchanging essence, thereby proclaiming himself as the manifestation of Yahweh’s presence on Earth. Regarding the deity of Jesus in the Old Testament, J.C. Ryle’s noted: “ Let us carefully note what a strong proof we have here of the pre-existence and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ. He applies to Himself the very name by which God made Himself known when He undertook to redeem Israel. It was “I AM” who brought them out of the land of Egypt. It was “I Am” who died for us upon the cross. The amazing strength of the foundation of a sinner’s hope appears here. Believe on Jesus we rest on divinity on One who is God as well as man .” ( 4 ) . 7 6 IBID. Simmons. Pg. 96.