John 20:29–31
John wrote his book so that we may believe and have life
Study it word by word29Jesus says to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Happy are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples that are not written in this book;
31but these are written so that you may go on believing that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
In its context
27Then he says to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and see my hands; and bring your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
…
Its words in the original
- λέγειlegei· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ἸησοῦςIēsous· Jesus
Jesus, the Greek form of the Hebrew Yehoshua (Joshua), which means "YHWH saves". It is the name the angel told Joseph to give him (Matthew 1:21).
- ἑώρακάςheōrakas· see
See, look; notice.
- πεπίστευκαςpepisteukas· believe
Believe, trust.
- μακάριοιmakarioi· blessed, happy
Blessed: truly happy, in the condition God blesses. It is the "happy" or "blessed" of the Psalms.
- ΠολλὰPolla· much, many
Much, great; in the plural, many.
- ἄλλαalla· other, another
Other, another.
- σημεῖαsēmeia· sign
Sign, a wonder that points to something.
- ἐποίησενepoiēsen· do, make
Do, make, produce.
- ἐνώπιονenōpion· before, in front of
In front of, in the presence of.
- μαθητῶνmathētōn· disciple
Disciple: someone who learns from a teacher and follows him in order to live as he does.
- ἔστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- γεγραμμέναgegrammena· write
Write. "It is written": that is what the Scriptures say.
- βιβλίῳbibliōi· book, scroll
Book, scroll; also written document.
- χριστὸςchristos· Messiah
Messiah: literally "anointed", the king or envoy God consecrates with oil. It is a title, not a surname; in Hebrew, mashiach.
- υἱὸςhuios· son, Son
Son. Also descendant: "son of David" means one of King David's family, and is a title of the promised Messiah.
- θεοῦtheou· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- ζωὴνzōēn· life
Life; the true life that God gives.
- ἔχητεechēte· have
Have, possess, hold.
- ὀνόματιonomati· name
Name. In the Bible, a name stands for the person himself.