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1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much better than the angels as the more excellent name he has inherited is better than theirs. 5For to which of the angels did he say at any time,

“You are my Son.

Today I have become your father?”

and again,

“I will be to him a Father,

and he will be to me a Son?”

6When he again brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.” 7Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,

and his servants a flame of fire.”

8But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.

The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

9You have loved righteousness and hated iniquity;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”

10And,

“You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.

The heavens are the works of your hands.

11They will perish, but you continue.

They all will grow old like a garment does.

12You will roll them up like a mantle,

and they will be changed;

but you are the same.

Your years won’t fail.”

13But which of the angels has he told at any time,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”

14Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

"I AM He"

"I AM He"

Passage Study | John 18:5 | Dennis Jowers

The phrase translated here as “I am he” reads in Greek, “egō eimi”: literally, “I myself am.” Here and in John 8:58, Jesus applies to Himself the divine name, “I am” (cf. Exod 3:13-14) and thus identifies Himself as God. The New Testament confirms Jesus’ self-identification as God by referring to Him as God explicitly (John 1:1, 18; 20:28; Acts 20:28; Rom 9:5; Titus 2:13; Heb 1:8; 2 Pet 1:1) and ascribing to Him divine attributes like omnipresence (Eph 1:23; Col 1:17), omniscience (John 16:30; 21:17; Col 2:3), existence before creation (John 1:1; 17:5; Col 1:15-17; Heb 1:10; Rev 1:8, 17; 2:8), equality with God the Father (John 5:18; Phil 2:6), and even deity itself (Col 2:9).

Scripture credits Jesus, moreover, with performing acts that only God can perform: e.g. creating the universe (John 1:3, 10; Eph 3:9; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2, 10), preserving it (Col 1:17; Heb 1:3), forgiving sins (Matt 9:2 par; Luke 7:48; Acts 5:31; Col 3:13), saving human beings (Matt 1:21; Acts 5:31; Phil 3:20; 2 Tim 1:10; Titus 1:4; 2:13; 2 Pet 1:11; 2:20; 1 John 4:14; cf. Isa 43:11), and judging them (Matt 25:31-46; John 5:22, 27; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom 2:16; 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10; 2 Tim 4:1, 8). John, in fact, states that Christ performs every act whatsoever that the Father performs (John 5:19). The New Testament’s authors, moreover, endorse by precept and example the worship of Jesus with the reverence due to God alone (John 5:23; 20:28; 1 Cor 1:2; Rom 14:10-11; Phil 2:10-11; Heb 1:6; Rev 1:5-6). Scripture teaches, therefore, that Jesus is not only a man, but also God: one person with a divine as well as a human nature (cf. Phil 2:6-7).