Joh 8:24 | RWP | e4.org | For except ye believe ( εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε ). Negative condition of third class with εαν μη and ingressive aorist active subjunctive of πιστευω , "For unless ye come to believe." That I am he ( οτ εγω ειμ ). Indirect discourse, but with no word in the predicate after the copula ειμ . Jesus can mean either "that I am from above" (verse ), "that I am the one sent from the Father or the Messiah" ( , ), "that I am the Light of the World" ( ), "that I am the Deliverer from the bondage of sin" ( , ., ), "that I am" without supplying a predicate in the absolute sense as the Jews ( ) used the language of Jehovah (cf. where the very words occur ινα πιστευσητε--οτ εγω ειμ ). The phrase εγω ειμ occurs three times here ( , , ) and also in . Jesus seems to claim absolute divine being as in .

‏ John 8:24

For except ye believe ( εαν γαρ μη πιστευσητε ). Negative condition of third class with εαν μη and ingressive aorist active subjunctive of πιστευω, "For unless ye come to believe."

That I am he ( οτ εγω ειμ ). Indirect discourse, but with no word in the predicate after the copula ειμ. Jesus can mean either "that I am from above" (verse 23), "that I am the one sent from the Father or the Messiah" (7:18, 28), "that I am the Light of the World" (8:12), "that I am the Deliverer from the bondage of sin" (8:28, 31f.,36), "that I am" without supplying a predicate in the absolute sense as the Jews (De 32:39) used the language of Jehovah (cf. Isa 43:10 where the very words occur ινα πιστευσητε--οτ εγω ειμ ). The phrase εγω ειμ occurs three times here (8:24, 28, 58) and also in 13:19. Jesus seems to claim absolute divine being as in 8:58.