In Exodus 3:14, we read:
14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ”
Theorem: “I AM WHO I AM” in Exodus 3:14 is Jesus Christ.
Proof: In Hebrew, the phrase “I AM WHO I AM” is אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה from the שמות 3:14 Hebrew OT: Westminster Leningrad Codex:
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֱלֹהִים֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר אֶֽהְיֶ֑ה וַיֹּ֗אמֶר כֹּ֤ה תֹאמַר֙ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶֽהְיֶ֖ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
Using the standard values of the Hebrew letters, we easily get the following values:
{
{“אהיה” I AM, 21},
{“אשר” WHO, 501},
{“אהיה” I AM, 21}
}
The sum is 543, which is the 442nd composite number. The 442nd even number is 884. But there are exactly 153 prime numbers less than or equal to 884. That is, the Prime Pi function evaluated at 884 is 153.
Since 153 refers to the Lord’s Prayer, which Jesus Christ taught us, we arrived at the conclusion of the theorem.
DISCUSSIONS
Outside of mathematics, we Christians can, of course, argue that the “I AM WHO I AM” statement in Exodus 3:14 refers to Jesus Christ based on several key theological and scriptural connections between the Old and New Testaments. Here are the main points supporting this argument.
The “I AM” Statement in Exodus 3:14
- Divine Self-Identification
- In Exodus 3:14, God reveals Himself to Moses with the name “I AM WHO I AM” (Hebrew: “Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh”), which is understood to mean that God is self-existent, eternal, and unchanging. This name is central to God’s identity and His covenant relationship with Israel.
Jesus’ Use of “I AM” in the New Testament
- Jesus’ Explicit Claims
- In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the phrase “I AM” (Greek: “Ego Eimi”) multiple times in a way that echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. Notable instances include:
- John 8:58: Jesus says, “Before Abraham was born, I am.” This statement caused a strong reaction from the Jewish leaders, who understood it as a claim to divinity, leading them to attempt to stone Him for blasphemy.
- John 8:24: Jesus states, “For if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”
- John 18:5-6: When the soldiers come to arrest Jesus, He responds with “I am He,” and they fall to the ground, indicating a display of divine authority.
- In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses the phrase “I AM” (Greek: “Ego Eimi”) multiple times in a way that echoes God’s self-revelation in Exodus. Notable instances include:
- “I AM” Statements and Divine Attributes
- Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus uses “I AM” in conjunction with metaphors that describe His divine role and mission:
- John 6:35: “I am the bread of life.”
- John 8:12: “I am the light of the world.”
- John 10:11: “I am the good shepherd.”
- John 11:25: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
- John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
- John 15:1: “I am the true vine.”
- Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus uses “I AM” in conjunction with metaphors that describe His divine role and mission:
Theological Implications
- Identification with Yahweh
- By using the “I AM” formula, Jesus identifies Himself with Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is seen as a direct claim to be the same God who spoke to Moses at the burning bush.
- Divine Nature of Jesus
- The early Christian church interpreted these statements as affirmations of Jesus’ divinity. They saw Jesus not just as a prophet or teacher, but as God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity.
- Fulfillment of Prophecy
- Christians believe that Jesus fulfills the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of God in the flesh to save His people. The “I AM” statements reinforce this belief by directly linking Jesus to the God of Israel.
Scriptural Support
- Colossians 1:15-17
- Paul describes Jesus as “the image of the invisible God,” affirming His divine nature and role in creation.
- Philippians 2:6-11
- Paul speaks of Jesus, who “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage,” further emphasizing Jesus’ divinity and pre-existence.
- Hebrews 1:3
- The writer of Hebrews describes Jesus as “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being.”
By connecting Jesus’ “I AM” statements in the New Testament with God’s revelation to Moses in the Old Testament, we Christians understand and argue that Jesus is indeed the “I AM,” the eternal, self-existent God who has come in the flesh to reveal Himself fully and provide salvation.