YHN 20:31 Parallel Verse View

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Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=vital (All still tentative.)

OET (OET-RV) But what has been written here has been recorded so that you might all believe that Yeshua is the messiah, God’s son, and then by believing, so that you might have true life through his power.

Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).

ULT but these things have been written so that you would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that believing, you would have life in his name.

UST Nevertheless, I have written about the signs in this book in order that you may trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. I also wrote about these things in order that, by trusting that Jesus is the Messiah, you may have eternal life through him.

MSB But these are written so that you may believe[fn] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

BLB But these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His name.

AICNT but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,[fn] the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

20:31, Christ: The Greek word means (1) fulfiller of Israelite expectation of a deliverer, the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ, (2) the personal name ascribed to Jesus, Christ. (BDAG, Χριστός)

OEB but these have been recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God – and that, through your belief in his name, you may have life.

WEBBE but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

WMBB but these are written that you may believe that Yeshua is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

NET But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

LSV and these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, you may have life in His Name.

FBV But these are written down here so that you may trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by trusting in him as he is[fn] you will have life.

20:31 Literally, “in his name.”

TCNT But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

T4T But these that I have written about, I have written about them in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, ◄the Son of God/the man who is also God►, and in order that you may have eternal life by trusting ◄in him/in what he has done for you► [MTY].

LEB but these things are recorded in order that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by[fn] believing you may have life in his name.

20:31 *Here “by” is supplied as a component of the participle (“believing”) which is understood as means

BBE But these are recorded, so that you may have faith that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that, having this faith you may have life in his name.

Moff but these Signs are recorded so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing may have life through his Name.

Wymth But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have Life through His name.
¶ 

ASV but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.

DRA But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing, you may have life in his name.

YLT and these have been written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life in his name.'

Drby but these are written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of [fn]God, and that believing ye might have life in his name.

20.31 Elohim

RV but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name.
(but these are written, that ye/you_all may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye/you_all may have life in his name. )

SLT But these have been written, that ye might believe that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life in his name.

Wbstr But these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye may have life through his name.

KJB-1769 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(But these are written, that ye/you_all might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye/you_all might have life through his name. )

KJB-1611 But these are written, that yee might beleeue that Iesus is the Christ the Sonne of God, and that beleeuing ye might haue life through his Name.
(But these are written, that ye/you_all might believe that Yesus/Yeshua is the Christ the Son of God, and that beleeuing ye/you_all might have life through his Name.)

Bshps These are written, that ye myght beleue that Iesus is Christe the sonne of God, and that in beleuyng, ye myght haue lyfe through his name.
(These are written, that ye/you_all might believe that Yesus/Yeshua is Christ the son of God, and that in beleuing, ye/you_all might have life through his name.)

Gnva But these things are written, that ye might beleeue, that Iesus is that Christ that Sonne of God, and that in beleeuing ye might haue life through his Name.
(But these things are written, that ye/you_all might believe, that Yesus/Yeshua is that Christ that Son of God, and that in beleeuing ye/you_all might have life through his Name. )

Cvdl But these are wrytte, yt ye shulde beleue, yt Iesus is Christ the sonne of God, & that ye thorow beleue might haue life in his name.
(But these are written, it ye/you_all should believe, it Yesus/Yeshua is Christ the son of God, and that ye/you_all through believe might have life in his name.)

TNT These are written that ye myght beleve that Iesus is Christ the sonne of God and that in belevynge ye myght have lyfe thorowe his name.
(These are written that ye/you_all might believe that Yesus/Yeshua is Christ the son of God and that in beleving ye/you_all might have life through his name. )

Wycl But these ben writun, that ye bileue, that Jhesus `is Crist, the sone of God, and that ye bileuynge haue lijf in his name.
(But these been written, that ye/you_all believe, that Yhesus is Christ, the son of God, and that ye/you_all believing have life in his name.)

Luth Diese aber sind geschrieben, daß ihr glaubet, JEsus sei Christus, der Sohn Gottes, und daß ihr durch den Glauben das Leben habet in seinem Namen.
(This/These but are written, that you(pl)/their/her believes, Yesus be Christ, the/of_the son God’s, and that you(pl)/their/her through the faith the life have in his name(s).)

ClVg Hæc autem scripta sunt ut credatis, quia Jesus est Christus Filius Dei: et ut credentes, vitam habeatis in nomine ejus.
(This however written are as credatis, because Yesus it_is Christ/Messiah Son of_God: and as believers, life you(pl)_have in/into/on by_name his. )

UGNT ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται, ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς, ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες, ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
(tauta de gegraptai, hina pisteuaʸte hoti Yaʸsous estin ho Ⱪristos, ho Huios tou Theou, kai hina pisteuontes, zōaʸn eⱪaʸte en tōi onomati autou.)

SBL-GNT ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται ἵνα ⸀πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
(tauta de gegraptai hina ⸀pisteuaʸte hoti Yaʸsous estin ho ⱪristos ho huios tou theou, kai hina pisteuontes zōaʸn eⱪaʸte en tōi onomati autou.)

RP-GNT Ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται, ἵνα πιστεύσητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
(Tauta de gegraptai, hina pisteusaʸte hoti Yaʸsous estin ho ⱪristos ho huios tou theou, kai hina pisteuontes zōaʸn eⱪaʸte en tōi onomati autou.)

TC-GNT Ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται, ἵνα [fn]πιστεύσητε ὅτι [fn]Ἰησοῦς ἐστιν ὁ Χριστὸς ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωὴν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ.
(Tauta de gegraptai, hina pisteusaʸte hoti Yaʸsous estin ho Ⱪristos ho huios tou Theou, kai hina pisteuontes zōaʸn eⱪaʸte en tōi onomati autou. )

20:31 πιστευσητε ¦ πιστευητε SBL TH WH

20:31 ιησους ¦ ο ιησους TR

Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs, red:words differ (from our SR-GNT base).

SOTN SIL Open Translator’s Notes:

Section 20:30–31: John wrote this book so that people would believe and have life

The author explained that he wrote about Jesus’ signs so that people would believe that he was God’s promised Savior. That way they would have life from him. This is the first conclusion of the gospel.

Here are other possible section headings:

Why John wrote his book

John wrote this book so that people would believe

The purpose of this book

20:31a

But these are written so that you may believe

But these miracles/signs have been recorded/reported so that you^(plur) might believe
But these miracles I wrote/included. Yes, because I want you^(plur) to believe

But: The Greek conjunction that the BSB 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 (GNT)
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 (GW)

But these however, they have been written (Kankanaey Back Translation)

so that: The Greek word that the BSB 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 BSB translates as you may believe probably refers to beginning to believe something.There is a textual issue here, with different manuscripts using two different forms of the word “believe.” Some commentaries say that the form in some manuscripts suggests a meaning of “keep believing.” However, it is difficult to know which word form is original. Also, some commentaries say that John uses both forms to mean both “start to believe” and “keep believing.” (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 (GW)

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,

that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, and the son of God.

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 BSB 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.In 5:25, Jesus used the term “Son of God” to refer to himself. (In other verses in 5:19–26 he just used “Son” with the same meaning.) He used that term to indicate that he had the same nature as God and shared God’s authority. 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 BSB 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 (NRSV)

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… (GW)

20:31c

and that by believing you may have life in His name.

And so that believing will enable you^(plur) to have true/eternal life through him.
And because I want that when you^(plur) believe, he will cause you to receive true life in him.
I also want you^(plur) to truly live because you are united with him through believing.

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 (NJB)

Then, by believing, you may have life through his name. (NCV)

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 BSB 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 (NJB)

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 (CEV)

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 (NCV)

in him (GNT)

because you are united with him

There are two ways to understand what the phrase in His name connects with:

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. (NCV) (BSB, NIV, NRSV. RSV, ESV, KJV, NCV, NASB, NET, NJB, REB)
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 (GW) (NLT, GW, CEV, GNT)

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.

UTN uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ταῦτα

these_‹things›

Here, these things could mean: (1) the miraculous signs that John wrote about in his Gospel and mentioned in the previous verse. Alternate translation: [these signs] (2) everything that John wrote about in his Gospel. Alternate translation: [everything in this book]

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ταῦτα δὲ γέγραπται

these_‹things› (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ταῦτα Δέ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστίν ὁ Χριστός ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωήν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ)

If your language does not use the passive form in this way, you can state this in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. Alternate translation: [but the author wrote about these things]

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / you

πιστεύητε & ἔχητε

˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_believing & ˱you_all˲_˓may_be˒_having

In this verse you is plural and could refer to: (1) people who are reading this Gospel and do not trust in Jesus for salvation. Alternate translation: [you might believe … you might have] (2) people who are reading this Gospel and already believe in Jesus. Alternate translation: [you would continue believing … you would continue to have]

Note 4 topic: guidelines-sonofgodprinciples

Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ

(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ταῦτα Δέ γέγραπται ἵνα πιστεύητε ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ἐστίν ὁ Χριστός ὁ Υἱός τοῦ Θεοῦ καί ἵνα πιστεύοντες ζωήν ἔχητε ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ)

Son of God is an important title for Jesus.

Note 5 topic: figures-of-speech / ellipsis

πιστεύοντες

believing

Jesus is leaving out some of the words that a clause would need in many languages to be complete. If it would be helpful in your language, you could supply these words from the context. Alternate translation: [believing that Jesus is the Christ]

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ζωὴν

Here, life refers to eternal life. If it would be helpful in your language, you could state this explicitly. See the UST.

Note 7 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit

ἐν τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ

in the name ˱of˲_him

Here, in indicates the means by which people can have eternal life. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [by means of his name]

Note 8 topic: figures-of-speech / synecdoche