BIBLE VERSE STUDY
John 20:31 — Purpose of the Gospel: Belief and Life
John 20:31 is the Gospel's stated purpose statement: the signs recorded are written so that readers may believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing they may have life in his name.
Scripture
31but 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.
What this passage means
John 20:31 functions as the Gospel's purpose statement. The verse begins with the contrastive 'but these are written,' following directly on 20:30, which acknowledges that many other signs were performed that have not been recorded. The 'these' therefore refers back to the specific signs selected and narrated in the Gospel—the seven miraculous signs plus the resurrection narrative that culminates in chapter 20. The selection is not random; the material is curated with a deliberate aim.
The stated aim has two linked parts joined by 'and.' First, the writing is intended to produce belief 'that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.' This confession unites two titles: 'Christ' (the promised Messiah of Israel) and 'Son of God' (a divine identity claim). Together they form the central christological affirmation the Gospel has been building toward. Second, belief is not an end in itself: it is the means by which readers 'may have life in his name.' The construction 'life in his name' indicates that the life in view is bound to the person and authority of Jesus, not an abstract concept.
The verse also situates the written Gospel within the life of the church. Since most readers cannot physically see the risen Jesus the way Thomas did in 20:27–28, they occupy the position Jesus praised in 20:29: 'they that have not seen, and yet have believed.' John 20:31 explains how such belief is possible—through the written testimony of the signs. The text thus frames the Gospel itself as the means by which future generations come to faith and life.
Context
The verse stands at the close of John's resurrection narrative. Chapter 20 moves from the empty tomb (20:1–10), through Mary Magdalene's encounter with the risen Jesus (20:11–18), to two appearances before the disciples: the first on Easter evening, when Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit (20:19–23), and the second a week later, when Thomas moves from doubt to confession (20:24–29). John 20:30 acknowledges that many signs were not included in the book, and 20:31 explains why these particular signs were.
Within the full chapter, the confession 'My Lord and my God' by Thomas in 20:28 anticipates the two titles John highlights in 20:31: 'Christ' and 'Son of God.' The mention in 20:30 of 'signs' performed in the disciples' presence frames the entire Gospel as a selective record of miracles, and 20:31 names the purpose for which that selection was made—to produce belief that issues in life.
Common questions
Is John 20:31 the conclusion of the Gospel?
In most manuscripts John 20:31 is followed by chapter 21, an epilogue that recounts Jesus' appearance at the Sea of Tiberias and Peter's restoration. Within the chapter itself, however, 20:31 reads as a formal purpose statement summarizing why the signs recorded in the book were written.
What does 'life in his name' mean in John 20:31?
Within John 20, 'life' is the resurrection life made available through the risen Jesus, and 'in his name' ties that life to Jesus' person and authority rather than presenting it as an abstract concept. The verse presents this life as the result of believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Why does John mention 'signs' that are not written in the book?
John 20:30 acknowledges that Jesus performed many signs that were not recorded, immediately before 20:31 explains that the signs which were written down were selected with a specific aim: to produce belief that leads to life. The mention of unrecorded signs underscores that the written record is a purposeful selection, not a complete archive.