5:13–15 · The boldness of faithFor the sixth time in this epistle (5:13; see 2:14, 21, 26) the elder declares his purpose in writing, and this time he explicitly echoes the evangelistic purpose of the Fourth Gospel (John 20:31): that his hearers/readers might believe in the name of the Son of God and thereby know that they have eternal life. The elder then reminds them of the promise of Jesus that anything asked in his name will be granted by the Father (John 14:13–14; 15:16) and that by asking in his name is the world overcome (John 16:23–32). Just as the purpose of Jesus is to further the will of the Father who sent him (John 4:34; 5:30; 6:40), the purpose of his followers should be the furthering of his will in the world (John 15:14–15) as his partners and friends. Even Jewish religiou…