John Is No Exception: Identifying the Subject of εἰμί and Its Implications

This article critically surveys the rules that have been followed for ascertaining the subject of εἰμί and explores the implications of the findings for interpreting John’s Gospel and First Letter. Following a review of the positions of Lane C. McGaughy, D. A. Carson, and Daniel B. Wallace, I argue that the subject of εἰμί in John 20:31, 1 John 2:22, 4:15, 5:1, and 5:5 is the articular noun. I discuss the implication of the syntax for the historical setting, purpose, and audience of the texts. I argue that the five clauses answer the Jewish question about the identity of “the Christ, the Son of God.”