Why is God's name "I AM"?

[Augustine3]

Hi all,

1. Why is God’s name “I AM”? What’s the significance of this?

When God had revealed his name, there were many other gods and deities worshipped at the time. Our Lord didn’t want to be just another deity of worship shared among thousands of others. This is one of the reasons why he revealed his name as I AM; in the sense of he was the only one and true God.

 

[Lion_IRC]

Hi all,

So I got stumped the other day with a question about God’s name.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

The funny thing is the set up in Exodus 3:5 earlier. God told Moses who He was!

“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

But Moses gazzumps the Lord
It’s a question that maybe never even occurred to God before.
…like when a child asks a beautifully naive, sincere question which astonishes adults.

Moses is all like…yabbut God…

"…I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?

And isn’t God entitled to a bit of a double-take here? Has anyone ever asked Him for His identity papers before?
Whatsit say on your birth certificate God?
How long have you been the God of all that is and ever will be?
The doubters and skeptics might want to know which God/god are you?
What will I tell them

So God answers in pure and perfect Truth.

…I just exist as I AM
…I am what/who I AM

There’s nothing else to add is there?

 

[Hunho]

I have seen this translation before. For me “I will be who I will be” or “I will be what I will be” has a strong implication that God has not yet fully evolved into something other than what He is. This became the best illustration to me as to why “I AM” is all God could say to the question without putting limitations on Himself.

Peace!!!

For God, everything is always ***present tense. ***With God there is no “I was” or “I will be,” just I AM.

 

[De_Maria]

Hi all,

I didn’t read any of the other answers. Hopefully, this reply will be in line with what you’ve already received.

So I got stumped the other day with a question about God’s name.

I have two questions:

1. Why is God’s name “I AM”?

That’s the short version. The entire name is, “I AM WHO AM”.

What’s the significance of this?

God is He in whom “we live, move and are” (Acts 17:28). In other words, God is all existence. Therefore, God IS ALL BEING.

1. Does this name apply specifically to God the Father? Or to all Persons of the Holy Trinity?

All. The three Persons of the Trinity are one God.

Thanks in advance for all your replies!

I hope that helps.