The Johannine Purpose Statement (John 20:31) – Introduction

The purpose statement of the Fourth Gospel found in John 20:30-31 (possibly the ending to a first edition of the Gospel without the epilogue of John 21) asserts: “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.” Then the Evangelist adds: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” In the subsequent posts I’m going to discuss this passage with respect to four particular issues:

1. Text critical matter of pisteusete (Aorist) or pisteuete (Present) as the preferred reading.

2. The significance of the tense forms for the purpose of the Fourth Gospel.

3. The proper translation of Iesous estin ho Christos (“Jesus is the Messiah” or “The Messiah is Jesus”).

4. Messianism and the Purpose of the Gospel of John.