20:31a
But: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But here introduces a contrast. The contrast is between the many signs that the author did not record and the ones that he did record. He recorded certain signs so people would believe in Jesus.
these are written: This is a passive clause. There are at least two ways to translate it:
• Use a passive verb. For example:
But these have been written (Good News Translation)
• Use an active verb. You can use a first person pronoun for the subject. For example:
But I have written these things
these: This pronoun refers to the signs or miracles that John did write about in the Gospel of John. These include the miracles that Jesus did, but also (perhaps especially) his resurrection. The Greek text emphasizes this pronoun. For example:
these miracles (God’s Word)
-or-
But these however, they have been written (Kankanaey Back Translation)
so that: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as so that introduces a purpose. The purpose explains why the author John included certain signs in his gospel. Introduce this purpose in a way that is natural in your language.
you may believe: This clause tells the purpose for John including the signs that he wrote about. He wanted them to believe something. The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as you may believe probably refers to beginning to believe something. (Some translations indicate this by using the English phrase “come to believe,” which means “begin to believe.”) Some of John’s readers did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God. John wanted them to begin believing this. However, most important English translations just say something like you may believe. For example:
you will believe (God’s Word)
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to all the readers or listeners of this book.
20:31b
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: This clause indicates that the author wanted his readers to believe that Jesus was the Messiah. The Messiah was the one that God had promised to send to save his people. He was the one they could truly call both Christ and the Son of God. These titles accurately indicated who Jesus was, his true identity.
Through all the history of the Jewish people, God had promised to send one who would save them, their Messiah. Now that promised Savior had come. He showed that he was that promised Savior, the Messiah, by rising from the dead. The people of God could believe that Jesus was the Christ and the Son of God. They could believe that because the signs that he gave showed that this was who he truly was.
The expression that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the Christ, the Son of God, indicates that here the Son of God is a title for the Messiah. However, the expression the Son of God is also much more than a title for the Messiah. John wanted his readers to believe that Jesus was the Christ. Much more than that, he wanted them to believe that Jesus shared God’s very nature as his Son. See 11:27, where Martha also called Jesus the Christ and the Son of God.
the Christ: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as the Christ is the Greek translation of the Hebrew word “Messiah,” which means “anointed one.” In Old Testament times, kings and priests were anointed with oil, meaning that a religious leader poured oil on their heads. This showed that God had chosen and appointed them as leaders. See how you translated the Christ in 1:20b and 1:41b and see the notes there. In some languages it may be natural to use the Hebrew form. For example:
the Messiah (New Revised Standard Version)
the Son of God: This phrase is a title for Jesus. This title indicates that Jesus has the same nature and character as God. It also indicates that the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, his Son, is similar in some way to the relationship between human fathers and sons. God the Father does not have a physical body. He did not have a sexual relationship that resulted in Mary becoming pregnant and giving birth to Jesus.
See how you translated the phrase the Son of God in 1:34, and see the note there.
General Comment on 20:30b–20:31a
Here there is a contrast between the miracles that the author recorded and those that he did not record. It is good to make that contrast clear in your translation. For example:
Those miracles…these miracles… (God’s Word)
20:31c
and that by believing you may have life in His name: This clause indicates John’s second purpose in recording the miracles in his gospel. He wanted people who read them to receive true life as they believed in Jesus. Here are other ways to translate this clause:
and that believing this you may have life through his name (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
Then, by believing, you may have life through his name. (New Century Version)
and that: The word that means “in order that” or “so that.” Here it introduces the second reason that John recorded Jesus’ miracle signs in his gospel.
by believing: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as by believing is the participle “believing.” It refers to believing that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. That should result in trusting in Jesus. Connect the word believing to the word “believe” in 20:31a by using a form of the same word if possible. In some languages you may need to add an object. For example:
believing this (New Jerusalem Bible)
-or-
as you believe this/him
you may have life: The word life here refers to real life, life with God. See 1:4, 5:21, 24–26, 39, 40, 6:33–35. In some languages it may be natural to a verb instead of the noun life. For example:
you may truly live
you: This pronoun is plural and refers to all of the readers and listeners of this book.
life: This word refers to the new spiritual life that God gives us when we believe in Jesus. It is the same life as “eternal life” in 3:15. See the note there. Here are other ways to translate this word:
true life (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
the new life (Otomi Back Translation)
in His name: This phrase indicates that it is in Jesus himself that we receive life. At that time, the word name represented the whole person, his character, nature, and authority. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
through his name (New Century Version)
-or-
in him (Good News Translation)
-or-
because you are united with him
There are two ways to understand what the phrase in His name connects with:
(1) It connects with “you may have life.” It means that the life is in Jesus’ name. For example:
Then, by believing, you may have life through his name. (New Century Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version. Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, King James Version, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible, NET Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, Revised English Bible)
(2) It connects with “believing.” It means that by believing in Jesus’ name that they will have life. For example:
and so that you will have life by believing in him (God’s Word)
(New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, Contemporary English Version, Good News Translation)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). It is followed by most important English translations and also has the support of many commentaries. It is true that believing in Jesus’ name gives life, but that is probably not what John is saying here.
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