John 20:31 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Here the writer tells us plainly why the whole Gospel was written: that we might believe, and live.
The Context of John 20:31
Near the end of his Gospel, having recounted the resurrection and the wonder of Thomas seeing the risen Lord, John steps back and tells us his purpose for the entire book. It is one of the few places where a Gospel writer names directly why he wrote.
What Does John 20:31 Mean?
After page upon page of signs and conversations, the cross and the empty tomb, John pauses to say why he wrote any of it. The aim is to lead us somewhere: that we 'might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,' more than to fill our heads with information. Everything in the book, every healing, every word, every quiet meeting, was chosen and set down to bring us to that one trust. The Gospel is an invitation, written so that we would meet Jesus and believe.
And belief opens onto something further still. John adds the goal of the goal: 'that believing ye might have life through his name.' The point is life, the deep and lasting life of God, received through the name of Jesus. The whole book leans toward this open door. It was written for us, across all the years, so that we too might read, believe, and find life in Him.
John 20:31 in the Original Language
pisteuo (πιστεύω), 'believe' -- to trust and rely upon; the response the whole Gospel is written to draw out.
How to Apply John 20:31 Today
This verse hands us the key to the whole Gospel and, in a sense, to our own reading of it. We are meant to finish as believers, and as more than believers: as those who have found life. The book was written for us, that meeting Jesus on its pages, we might trust Him and live.
Frequently Asked Questions About John 20:31
What does John 20:31 mean?
Here the writer tells us plainly why the whole Gospel was written: that we might believe, and live.
What is the context of John 20:31?
Near the end of his Gospel, having recounted the resurrection and the wonder of Thomas seeing the risen Lord, John steps back and tells us his purpose for the entire book. It is one of the few places where a Gospel writer names directly why he wrote.
How can I apply John 20:31 today?
This verse hands us the key to the whole Gospel and, in a sense, to our own reading of it. We are meant to finish as believers, and as more than believers: as those who have found life. The book was written for us, that meeting Jesus on its pages, we might trust Him and live.