Jesus answered is literally “Jesus answered and said to them,” again reflecting Semitic influence in John’s writing.

As indicated in verse 28, what God wants you to do is singular. The Jews are still thinking in terms of what they must do to obtain God’s approval. Jesus indicates, on the other hand, that God demands but one thing of them: believe in the one he sent.

In pronominal reference it may be necessary to adjust the clause believe in the one he sent to read “believe in me whom God sent.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .