[B-Greek] EGW EIMI (Was: Re: HQELON OUN LABEIN AUTON EIS TOPLOION Jn 6:21)

Bryant J. Williams III bjwvmw at com-pair.net
Tue Jun 3 11:50:05 EDT 2008


Dear Elizabeth,

I do find it interesting that EGW EIMI is found 5x (6:20, 35, 40, 48 ,51) in
this passage. 4x it is in conjunction with hO ARTOS in the phrase, "EGW EIMI hO
ARTOS."

Considering the context of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (6:1-14; the only
miracle other than the Resurrection that is repeated in all four Gospels),
followed by the Walking on the Water incident (6:16-21; the immediate context of
this thread) and the Bread of Life Discourse (6:35-65; which the EGW EIMI  hO
ARTOS is used 4x), the meaning is in 6:20 is probably, "It is I." It is also
probable that the underlying theme of a epiphany as shown in the Feeding of the
Five Thousand, Walking on the Water and the I am the Bread Discourse, leaves one
to see the allusions to the OT of God walking on the water (Job 9:8 LXX; cf
parallel in Mark 6:48); Psalms 77:16, 19; especially Numbers 11 and the Manna).
I would recommend Andreas J. Kostenberger, "John," pp. 443-451, ***A Commentary
on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament,*** Edited by G. K. Beale and D.
A. Carson, Grand Rapids: Baker Academics, 2007.

Kostenberger states, "Jesus' words to the disciples in 6:20, 'It is I; do not be
afraid,' likewise suggests an OT background. Apart from the lain meaning of the
words 'It is I' (egw eimi) as conveying Jesus' self-identification, there may be
overtones of epiphany ('I am ' is God's name in the OT [see Exod. 3:14]),
especially in light of Jesus' walking on the water." (page 444)

Finally, Kostenberger gives a very good Introduction to the Gospel of John in
which he gives several lists to OT Quotes (19 explicit quotes with Introductory
Formulas),  OT Quotations in John and the Rest of the NT, Alignment of OT
Quotations in John's Gospel with the Masoretic Text or Septuagint, Attribution
of OT Quotations in John's Gospel and OT Passages Cited, OT Quotations in John's
Gospel in OT Order, OT Allusions and Verbal Parallels in John's Gospel and OT
Quotations in John and the Dead Sea Scrolls.

En Xristwi,

Rev. Bryant J. Williams III


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth Kline" <kline_dekooning at earthlink.net>
To: "greek B-Greek" <b-greek at lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2008 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: [B-Greek] EGW EIMI (Was: Re: HQELON OUN LABEIN AUTON EIS TOPLOION
Jn 6:21)


>
> On Jun 2, 2008, at 10:03 AM, Elizabeth Kline wrote:
>
> > However, it has been suggested more than once that what we have here
> > in Jn 6:16-21 (Matt. 14:22-27Mk 6:45-62) is a theophany and that the
> > language of Jn 6:20 EGW EIMI has a primary and a secondary function/
> > meaning. The primary function is to identify himself to the twelve.
> > The secondry function is use the language of deity within a theophanic
> > event. It certainly isn't neccessairy to point out that this language
> > is so used in the LXX.
> >
> > For discussions of this see R.E.Brown (John AB, v1 p533) and
> > G.R.Beasley-Murray (John WBC, pp 63, 89-90). Also C.H.Dodd is quoted
> > in L.Morris (NICNT John 1971, p350, n43) as recognizing this primary
> > and secondary function/meaning of EGW EIMI in Jn 6:20.
>
> A more accessable presentation of the theophanic reading of Mk 6:45-62
> (Jn 6:16-21, Matt. 14:22-27), including the primary and  secondary
> function/meaning of EGO EIMI, can be found in W.Lane (NICNT Mark, 1974
> pp. 236-7). Lane also suggests the isianic  second exodus[1] as a
> framework for makeing sense of the language and imagry of this pericope.
>
>
>
> Elizabeth Kline
>
> [1] In the unlikely event that someone might want to read a mongraph
> on this, Rikki Watts, Isaiah's New Exodus and Mark (Tubingen: J. C. B.
> Mohr Siebeck, 1997 repr., Biblical Studies Library; Grand Rapids:
> Baker, 2000).
>
>
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