 | "I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." |
 | I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. |
 | "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins." |
| John 8:24 |
Commentary
Jesus often used repetition for emphasis. Here He solemnly warned them again that they would die in their sins. If they steadfastly refused to believe on Him, there was no alternative. Apart from the Lord Jesus, there is no way to obtain forgiveness of sins, and those who die with sins unforgiven cannot possibly enter heaven at last.
The word He is not found in this verse in the original, though it may be implied. It reads literally: "If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins." We see in the words I am another claim to deity by the Lord Jesus.
MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jn 8:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
"I AM""I am" was God's designation of Himself (Ex. 3:14). Jesus was claiming to be God. This assertion was not understood by the religious leaders at this time. Later, Jesus' claim to be the "I AM" (v. 58) prompted the Jewish leaders to seek His life (v. 59).
Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 8:24-25). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.