12.1 | Yan Ma Canadian Chinese School of Theology, Toronto, Canada Biblical scholars dispute the meaning and function of
ἐγώ εἰμι uttered by Jesus in John 8:24 and 8:28. This paper
proposes a linguistic method that provides a framework to assess
the linguistic features of the New Testament text and that may
offer new insights into the Johannine ἐγώ εἰμι clauses. By
adopting the theory of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL),
this paper conducts a register analysis of ἐγώ εἰμι in John 8:24
and 8:28, with reference to Isa 43:10 and 43:25. Based on this
analysis, the paper argues that ἐγώ εἰμι uttered by Jesus in John
8:24 and 8:28 is used intentionally as an allusion to the divine
name in the Old Testament, which specifically and powerfully
invokes the image of God, and that this wording therefore
functions to portray Jesus’ divinity. Keywords: Gospel of John, “I am” sayings, ἐγώ εἰμι,
Intertextuality, Systemic Functional Linguistics |