John 8:58 (WEB)
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
Catechism · 1
“…the Temple"; his reminder that David had called the Messiah his Lord, and his affirmations, "Before Abraham was, I AM", and even "I and the Father are one."” — Catechism footnote: Jn 8:58; 10:30.
Fathers and councils · 33
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VIII.12Book VIII
“And we do not “reverence beyond measure one who has but lately appeared,” as though He did not exist before; for we believe Himself when He says, “Before Abraham was, I am.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
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Irenaeus of Lyons
- Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies Fragments from.52Fragments from the Lost Writings of Irenæus
“And as He was from Abraham, so did He also exist before Abraham.” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment “…did not accept of the friendship of Abraham, as though He stood in need of it, for He was perfect from the beginning (“Before Abraham was,” He says, “I am”), but that He in His goodness might bestow eternal life upon Abraham himself, inasmuch as the friendship of God imparts immortality to those who embrace it.” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“And, ‘Before Abraham was, I am.’” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“Accordingly, though He thus speaks, yet He taught also that He Himself existed before this, when He said, ‘Before Abraham came to be, I am;’ and ‘when He prepared the heavens, I was present with Him;’ and ‘I was with Him disposing things.’” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“For, says Scripture, Jesus said to them, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am.’” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“And then, when the Jews received this hardly, He says what to them was still harder, Before Abraham was, I am.” — editor's note: Ib. viii. 58.
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“He calls Nazareth and Capernaum His country, and again He exclaims “Before Abraham was I am.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58
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Ambrose of Milan
“In its extent, the preposition “before” reaches back into the past without end or limit, and so “Before Abraham was, I am,” clearly need not mean “after Adam,” just as “before the Morning Star” need not mean “after the angels.”” — editor's note: S. John viii. 58.
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Augustine of Hippo
“But as regardeth the Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein He is equal with the Father, He is not only before the Jews, but also before Abraham himself; nor only before Abraham, but also before Adam; nor only before Adam, but also before Heaven and earth and before ages: for all things by Himself were made, and…” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“In the quiet soul, in the righteous soul: that is it that containeth Him.…He who said, “Before Abraham was, I am:” not before Abraham only, but before Adam: not only before Adam, but before all the angels, before heaven and earth; since all things were made through Him: he…” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“But how could they not know Him, or not believe in Him; since they are called prophets for this very reason, because, though somewhat darkly, they announced the Lord beforehand?” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“The ancestor of His mother was Abraham; and the Lord saith, “Before Abraham I am.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“For He said truth, “Before Abraham was, I am.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“It is well that thou dost bear witness to Him; let us, however, hear Himself saying, “Even before Abraham, I am.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
Read the whole comment“For He said in another place, “Before Abraham was, I am” (ver. 58); and then they sought to stone Him.” — the author cites it
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John Chrysostom
“And if when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am” ( c. viii. 58 ), they were offended, what would have been their case if they had continually heard high expressions?” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Ver.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“Thus He Himself indeed, reasoning with the Jews, said, “Before Abraham was, I Am:”but His disciple not thus, but, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”” — editor's note: John viii. 58.
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John Cassian
“He replied in words that exactly suit His eternity and glory, saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham came into being, I am.”” — editor's note: Ibid. ver. 58.
Read the whole comment“…in which “made” stands for “born:” as in this passage: “Instead of thy fathers there are made to thee sons:” or this: “Before Abraham was made, I am;” where we certainly see clearly that He meant “Before he was born, I am:” alluding to the fact of his birth under the term “was made,” because whatever does not…” — editor's note: S. John viii. 58.
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Catena Aurea on John
- Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
The carnal minds of the Jews are intent on the flesh only; they think only of His age in the flesh: Then said the Jews unto Him, Thou art not fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham? that is to say, Many ages…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
Christ was then thirty-three years old. Why then do they not say, Thou art not yet forty years old, instead of fifty? A needless question this: they simply spoke as chance led them at the time. Some however say that…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Our Saviour mildly draws them away from their carnal view, to the contemplation of His Divinity; Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. Before is a particle of past time, am,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Abraham being a creature, He did not say before Abraham was, but, before Abraham was made. Nor does He say, I am made; because that, in the beginning WAS. the Word.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Their unbelieving minds, however, were unable to support these indications of eternity; and not understanding Him, sought to destroy Him: Then they took up stones to cast at Him.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Such hardness of heart, whither was it to run, but to its truest likeness, even the stones? But now that He had done all that He could do as a teacher, and they in return wished to stone Him, since they could not…
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
Who, had He chosen to exert the power of His Divinity, could, without a word, by His mere nod, have seized them, with the very stones in their hands, and delivered them to immediate death. But He who came to suffer,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
For His part was more to exhibit patience than exercise power.
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
He fled, because His hour was not yet come; and because He had not chosen this kind of death.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
So then, as a man, He flies from the stones; but woe to them, from whose stony hearts God flies.
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
Mystically, a man throws a stone at Jesus, as often as he harbours an evil thought; and if he follows it up, so far as lies in him, he kills Jesus.
Read the whole comment - Gregory the GreatCatena Aurea on John
What does our Lord mean by hiding Himself, but that the truth is hidden to them, who despise His words. The truth flies the company of an unhumbled soul. His example shews us, that we should in all humility rather…
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Cross-references · 20
Cross-reference given by the World English Bible's translators.
Cited together in Catechism §590 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 42.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9 and 1 other place.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in Gregory the Great on John 8:57–59 (2) (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in On the Incarnation of the Lord, Against Nestorius VI.8.
Cited together in Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 42.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in Exposition of the Christian Faith III.9.
Cited together in Against Heresies Fragments from.52.