Christians usually give verses from the Bible where Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life", "I am the way, the truth, the life", "I am the bread of life", etc. to prove that Jesus claimed to be God. All of these arguments have been proven false to show that Jesus claimed divinity.
As for these claims that Jesus made, we have to remember that Jesus used to talk figuratively. But then when he talked plainly with his disciples he made it clear that he was sent FROM God and that he did not say that he WAS God.
John 16:25-33
25"Though I have been speaking figuratively (paroimia), a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father. 26In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
29Then Jesus' disciples said, "Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. 30Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God."
31"You believe at last!"[b] Jesus answered. 32"But a time is coming, and has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
33"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
The word paroimia could mean...
1) a saying out of the usual course or deviating from the usual manner of speaking
a) a current or trite saying, a proverb
2) any dark saying which shadows forth some didactic truth
a) esp. a symbolic or figurative saying
b) speech or discourse in which a thing is illustrated by the use of similes and comparisons
c) an allegory
1) extended and elaborate metaphor
Source:
http://www.blueletterbible.org/tmp_dir/words/3/1146511128-5176.htmlChristians usually argue that Jesus used to talk in parables and therefore his disciples might not have understood him clear enough. However, in the passage I just cited we see that Jesus was talking plainly and not figuratively. Now if Jesus was talking plainly then why didn't the disciples just go and say that they knew Jesus was God and not just sent by God?
