JESUS’ SELF-PRESENTING – THEOPHANIC »I AM HE/IT IS I« IN MK 6:50; MT 14:27; JN 6:20; 18:5-6 Cover Image

ISUSOV SAMOPREDSTAVLJAJUĆE-TEOFANIJSKI »JA SAM« U MK 6, 50; MT 14, 27; IV 6, 20; 18, 5-6
JESUS’ SELF-PRESENTING – THEOPHANIC »I AM HE/IT IS I« IN MK 6:50; MT 14:27; JN 6:20; 18:5-6

Author(s): Ivan Andelfinger, Ivica Čatić
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Biblical studies, Translation Studies, History of Religion
Published by: Katolički bogoslovni fakultet u Đakovu
Keywords: Bible; New Testament; God’s name; »I am he/It is I« formula; theophanic context; the historical-salvific function;

Summary/Abstract: The authors analyze Jesus’ ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi) expressions spoken during his walk on the sea (Mk 6:50; Mt 14:27; Jn 6:20), and during the arrest in the garden of Gethsemane (cf. Jn 18:5-6). While in the biblical Greek there is only one form of the expression ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi), in the Croatian language, there are two different translations with a similar meaning: »Ja sam« (unstressed form) and »Ja jesam« (stressed form). The verb form ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi), which we find in Mk 6:50; Mt 14:27; Jn 6:20; 18:5-6, and which we translate into the Croatian language in the unstressed form (»Ja sam«), has dual function in the sentence: the self-presenting function, where Jesus presents himself to his interlocutors in the same way as any other person; and the Old Testament theophanic function, where the revelation words and actions, which once in the history of Israel were said and done by the Lord, are now manifested in Jesus: that which was done in the Old Testament by the Father, in the New Testament is done by the Son. Jesus’ ἐγώ εἰμί (egō eimi) formula with the double meaning points us to the holy name of God »I am« (cf. Ex 3:14; Hos 1:9; Deut 32:39; Isa 41:4; 43:10/13/25; 45:18-19; 46:4, 48:12; 51:12; 52:6), with which the Lord brought the chosen people out of Egypt and out of Babylonian captivity. When Jesus speaks his »I am he/It is I« formulas, he actually continues and fulfils their historical-salvific function.

  • Issue Year: 24/2016
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 153-193
  • Page Count: 41
  • Language: Croatian