At John 8:58 the New World Translation renders ἐγὼ εἰμί as “I have been”, where every major English version consulted renders it “I am”. The Kingdom Interlinear's own word-for-word line under the same Greek reads “I am”.
Claim ID claim-bible-john-8-58-i-have-beenConcerns 2013Explicit statement
The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation argues that the present tense here expresses a state beginning in the past and continuing, which English renders with a perfect; it cites Winer's grammar and Moulton–Turner, both of which list John 8:58 as an example of that construction, and notes that the New World Translation renders the same verb form “I have been” at John 14:9.
2013 · John 8:58 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Jesus said to them: “Most truly I say to you, before Abraham came into existence, I have been.””
The 2013 rendering. The 1984 Reference Bible reads identically apart from capitalisation and the small-capital 'YOU': 'Most truly I say to YOU, Before Abraham came into existence, I have been.'
19 September 2026 · Bible Hub (reproducing the named copyright translations)
“English Standard Version: “before Abraham was, I am.” King James Bible: “Before Abraham was, I am.” New American Standard Bible: “before Abraham was born, I am.” NET Bible: “before Abraham came into existence, I am!” Contemporary English Version: “even before Abraham was, I was, and I am.””
Every major version consulted renders ἐγώ εἰμι here as a present, 'I am'. The NET Bible matches the NWT's 'came into existence' for γενέσθαι but keeps 'I am'.
Provenance and verification note for Bible Hub parallel translations, John 8:58 in the parallel English versions
Confidence note. Page opened and every rendering read on 19 September 2026 on Bible Hub's reproduction.
Notes. This quote field compiles renderings quoted separately from one Bible Hub parallel page; it is not a continuous passage. Each rendering was checked word for word against the page, which carries over forty versions.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-nwtv-bh-john-8-58
1985 · pp.1145-1146 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“The action expressed in John 8:58 started “before Abraham came into existence” and is still in progress. In such situation εἰμί (ei·miʹ), which is the first-person singular present indicative, is properly translated by the perfect indicative.”
The appendix supports the rendering with G. B. Winer's grammar (7th ed., Andover, 1897, p. 267) and Moulton–Turner, A Grammar of New Testament Greek, Vol. III (Edinburgh, 1963, p. 62), both of which do cite John 8:58 as an example of the 'present of past action still in progress'. It also lists five early Syriac, Georgian and Ethiopic versions rendering 'I was'.
Provenance and verification note for The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures, Appendix 2F: Jesus—In Existence Before Abraham
Confidence note. Appendix opened in full on wol.jw.org on 19 September 2026; page markers 1145 and 1146 read from the page-number spans. I confirmed the appendix's wording; I did not open Winer or Moulton–Turner to check the quotations against the printed grammars.
2013 · study note, John 8:58 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“In this context, however, the action expressed by the Greek verb ei·miʹ started “before Abraham came into existence” and was still in progress. It is therefore properly translated “I have been” rather than “I am,” … In fact, at Joh 14:9, the same form of the Greek verb ei·miʹ is used to render Jesus’ words: “Even after I have been with you men for such a long time, Philip, have you not come to know me?””
The current study note. It acknowledges the argument that ἐγώ εἰμι alludes to the Septuagint of Exodus 3:14 and answers it from context rather than from grammar alone.
Provenance and verification note for New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Study note on John 8:58, 'I have been'
Confidence note. Study note read in full on the nwtsty John chapter 8 page on wol.jw.org, 19 September 2026. Independent audit, 19 September 2026: the quotation had silently expanded the Watchtower Online Library's own Bible-book abbreviations (and, at Hebrews 1:6, dropped a parenthetical cross-reference). Restored to the wording on the page.
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