And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life—John 6:40; King James Version

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life—John 6:40, New International Version

Discussion: The difference between the King James Version and the New International Version is serious. And it represents a serious, willful mistranslation. Conservative Christianity would like to think that all a person needs to do to have eternal life is believe in Jesus. But the Bible actually says that those who believe in Jesus may have eternal life. It isn’t as certain as some would like to think. The way the New International Version reads, believing in Jesus shall give you eternal life. They translate the verb as a simple future tense, because they want to think that belief shall save you. But the Greek verb definitely cannot be translated as a simple future tense—shall. The verb in question is exei (the “i” actually sits below the “e” but this font doesn’t let me do that)—present subjunctive, not future, of “to have”. The subjunctive mood is used to imply doubt. Whenever one isn’t sure of something, the Greek uses the subjunctive. So the correct translation of exei is may. Believing in Jesus offers one the opportunity to have eternal life—belief may give you eternal life—but there’s no guarantee about it, or the subjunctive mood wouldn’t have been used. I think that believing in Jesus opens a person to receive Jesus’ love and its eternal life, but we need to actively respond to Jesus and embody his love in our lives. Belief alone won’t save me, but a loving response on my part shall.