1But say the things which fit sound doctrine, 2that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance, 3and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good, 4that they may train the young wives to love their husbands, to love their children, 5to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.
6Likewise, exhort the younger men to be sober minded. 7In all things show yourself an example of good works. In your teaching, show integrity, seriousness, incorruptibility, 8and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, that he who opposes you may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say about us.
9Exhort servants to be in subjection to their own masters and to be well-pleasing in all things, not contradicting, 10not stealing, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God, our Savior, in all things. 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
15Say these things and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one despise you.
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).