---
title: John 8:58
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-8-58/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/john-8-58.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: John 8:58
testament: NT
section: Gospels
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# John 8:58

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> “Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (1984 edition): "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been."
- NWT (2013 revision): "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been."

## JW Usage

NWT renders "Before Abraham came into existence, I have been" — changing ego eimi to a past tense to avoid the connection to Exodus 3:14.

## Protestant Usage

Jesus says ego eimi — "I AM" — the divine name from the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The Jews understood exactly what he claimed and picked up stones for blasphemy.

## NWT Issue

NWT changes "I am" to "I have been" despite ego eimi being present tense in the Greek. The Jews' reaction (stoning for blasphemy) only makes sense if Jesus claimed the divine name.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Ego Eimi — 'I AM'](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/ego-eimi.md) — John 8:58 [Deity of Christ]
- [The NWT's One-Way Mirror](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/nwt-unidirectional-bias.md) — Every Change Points the Same Direction [NWT Translation]
- [Spirit of Christ — Restructured Away](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/spirit-of-christ.md) — 1 Peter 1:11 — The NWT Breaks the Genitive to Hide Pre-Existence [NWT Translation]
- [Three Groups, One Move](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/three-groups-one-move.md) — The Bible Is Broken and We Have the Fix [Authority]
- [Unless You Believe That I AM — Christology as a Salvation Issue](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/john824-believe-i-am.md) — John 8:24 / Isaiah 43:10 / John 13:19 [Deity of Christ]
- [Abraham Rejoiced to See My Day](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/abraham-saw-my-day.md) — John 8:56 — Jesus Claims Abraham Saw Him in the OT [Deity of Christ]
- [The Trial That Proved Jesus Claimed to Be God](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/mark14-trial-deity-claim.md) — Mark 14:60-64 [Deity of Christ]
- [Liar, Lunatic, or Lord — There Is No Fourth Option](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/liar-lunatic-lord.md) — John 8:58 / John 10:30 / Mark 14:62 [Deity of Christ]
- [You Can't Cite a Bible You Say Is Corrupted](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/consistency-corrupt-bible-self-defeat.md) — The Selective-Appeal Inconsistency [Authority]
- [The Angel That Bore Jehovah's Name](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/acts-7-38-angel-name.md) — Acts 7:38, Exodus 23:20-23 — an angel who forgives sin and demands absolute obedience [Deity of Christ]
- [The Incarnation Is Addition, Not Compression](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/word-became-flesh-not-michael.md) — Why the Logos-to-Michael-to-Jesus-to-Michael cycle does not match the New Testament [Deity of Christ]