'Before Abraham was, I am'
Whether 'I am' takes the divine Name or is a plain statement of pre-existence.
John 8:48-59
48Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
49Jesus answered, “I don’t have a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me.
50But I don’t seek my own glory. There is one who seeks and judges.
51Most certainly, I tell you, if a person keeps my word, he will never see death.”
52Then the Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, as did the prophets; and you say, ‘If a man keeps my word, he will never taste of death.’
53Are you greater than our father, Abraham, who died? The prophets died. Who do you make yourself out to be?”
54Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say that he is our God.
55You have not known him, but I know him. If I said, ‘I don’t know him,’ I would be like you, a liar. But I know him and keep his word.
56Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it, and was glad.”
57The Jews therefore said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old! Have you seen Abraham?”
58Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
59Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.
What each tradition says
Rabbinic / Midrashic
Joseph Jacobs describes the Gospel of John as a “Tendenz-Roman,” practically a work of religious imagination intended to change opinion in a certain direction. He holds that the supernatural claims made on Jesus’ behalf are based almost exclusively on statements in that fourth Gospel.
Joseph Jacobs, The Jewish Encyclopedia (1905), art. "Jesus of Nazareth" — In History — Sources of Life
Patristic
Augustine interprets “I am” as referring to the Divine essence, while “was made” refers to human formation. Abraham was a creature, not made except by me. Jesus did not say, “Before Abraham was, I was,” but “Before Abraham was made, I am.”
Augustine of Hippo (354-430), Tractates on the Gospel of John (trans. John Gibb), in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, ser. 1, vol. 7 — Tractate 43, on John 8:58
Catholic
Haydock's commentary holds that in John 8:58 Christ speaks of his eternal existence as God. Following Augustine, it says Christ did not say "before Abraham was made, I was made," because as the Son of God he never was made; rather, "I am" shows his eternal divine nature.
George Leo Haydock, George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary (1859) — On John 8:58
Orthodox
Cyril says that He is before all time. He has His Generation most ancient, being without beginning in the Father.
Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376-444), Commentary on the Gospel according to S. John, Vol. I (Library of Fathers, Oxford, 1874) — Book VI, on John 8:58
Reformed / Protestant
Calvin says that by these words Jesus excludes himself from the ordinary rank of men and claims a power more than human, a heavenly and divine power. The perception of this power reached from the beginning of the world through all ages.
John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on John, Volume 1 (CCEL text of the Calvin Translation Society edition) — On John 8:58
Evangelical
Wesley takes Jesus’ “I AM” to mean he was even from everlasting to everlasting. This directly answers the Jews’ objection and shows how much greater Jesus was than Abraham.
John Wesley (1703-1791), John Wesley's Notes on the Bible — Notes on John 8:58