The Evangelical Universalist Forum

I am what I am

Theology Biblical Theology
#1

Ex 3:14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” He said further, “Thus you shall say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

the LXX translates I AM WHO I AM as eimi ho eimi

1 Cor 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

also eimi(1510) ho(3588) eimi(1510)

Is Paul claiming to be God? I’m pretty sure Paul was aware of the vocabulary of Gods name.

Christ in you is the hope of glory. We are the body of Christ, which makes you part of Him.

Any thoughts???

#2

When I first became saved it was while I was writing (how ironic no?) This is one paragraph from that 3 page epiphany,

“I am what I am” meant for me to be myself. For God it means to just exist as he is. He is not a god made in our image, but he is who he is, no one can change him. I want to be who I was made to be.

P.S. For me this is the most inspired writing God has ever given me. If anyone wants to read the whole thing feel free, its on facebook (I really don’t care if people know who I am lol).

facebook.com/note.php?note_id=121756140970

#3

How bizarre :astonished: I assume he wasn’t. Off the top of my head, not really knowing Greek, could it be that it should be translated: “But by the grace of God (I AM WHO I AM), and his grace toward me was not in vain.” i.e. could the “I AM” part be linked to God not Paul??

#4

I don’t understand greek at all so this may not even be saying it at all. Just a couple thoughts if it is the same.

Many use Jesus saying “before Abraham was, I AM” as proof of His divinity. Here we have Paul using(possibly) word for word the sacred name, whereas Jesus just uses the first part. How does this, if at all effect that argument?

Lets say God’s name was “You Da’ Man”. You’d see that phrase and right away recognize it. If someone was to say it, write it, you’d understand what they were saying (this is the line of thought around the Jesus I AM argument). Now I realize that “You Da’ Man” is a much less used phrase (thankfully, I don’t hear it all day anymore :smiley: ), but, Paul being a Jew of Jews knew his stuff, and would not so carelessly throw around that terminology (and well I think the HS knows its stuff too).

Maybe it is like you say alex “by the grace of God (who’s name is) I am what I am,and his grace”.

or maybe its a hidden gem pointing us to the fact that we are God. By that I mean the new man, which is Christ in us, we are the temple of the HS, we are the body of Christ (who is I AM), we are seated with Him at the right hand of the Father, God may be All in All. It is no longer I that lives but Christ in me

1 John 4:13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; **because as He is, so also are we in this world. **

2 Cor 3:18 And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His {very own} image in ever increasing splendor {and} from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

#5

I admit when I first posted this I was trying to be inflammatory. I know Paul was not saying that he the flesh man is the I AM. But, I also think we don’t take seriously enough who we will be/are becoming. For me at least, it seems/seemed blasphemous to even think we will be one with God, or become divine. But is that not what being transformed into His glorious body means? What does it mean in practice that God will be all in all? What about this:

rev 3:12 If you conquer, I will make you a pillar in the temple of my God; you will never go out of it. I will write on you the name of my God(I am what I am), and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem that comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

Eph 1:21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come.

onoma H3686
Definition: 1) name: univ. of proper names
2) the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything
the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by
mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank,
authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.
3) persons reckoned up by name
4) the cause or reason named: on this account, because he
suffers as a Christian, for this reason

what does it mean to be one of the sons of God? Same title as Jesus. The unveiling of the sons of God is what sets creation free from its bondage to corruption.

What does it mean that it is no longer I but Christ in me? is it just a trite saying, just a word picture. Or does it mean that the Logos, is us? Not me the old man, the one who is to be put to death.

2 Cor 6:16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

1 Cor 6:16 For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” 17But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?

Eph 5:29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30because we are members of His body. 31FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.

Col 1:27 To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.