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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comJamieson Fausset Brown Commentary - 1 John 2:29 - 2:29
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The heading of the second division of the Epistle: “God is righteous; therefore, every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him.” Love is the grand feature and principle of “righteousness” selected for discussion, 1 John 2:29-3:3.
If ye know ... ye know - distinct Greek verbs: “if ye are aware (are in possession of the knowledge) ... ye discern or apprehend also that,” etc. Ye are already aware that God (“He” includes both “the Father,” of whom the believer is born (end of this verse, and 1Jo 3:1), and “the Son,” 1Jo 2:1, 1Jo 2:23) is righteous, ye must necessarily, thereby, perceive also the consequence of that truth, namely, “that everyone that doeth righteousness (and he alone; literally, the righteousness such as the righteous God approves) is born of Him.” The righteous produceth the righteous. We are never said to be born again of Christ, but of God, with whom Christ is one. Hollaz in Alford defines the righteousness of God, “It is the divine energy by whose power God wills and does all things which are conformable to His eternal law, prescribes suitable laws to His creatures, fulfils His promises to men, rewards the good, and punishes the ungodly.”
doeth - “For the graces (virtues) are practical, and have their being in being produced (in being exercised); for when they have ceased to act, or are only about to act, they have not even being” [Oecumenius]. “God is righteous, and therefore the source of righteousness; when then a man doeth righteousness, we know that the source of his righteousness is God, that consequently he has acquired by new birth from God that righteousness which he had not by nature. We argue from his doing righteousness, to his being born of God. The error of Pelagians is to conclude that doing righteousness is a condition of becoming a child of God” [Alford most truly]. Compare Luk 7:47, Luk 7:50 : Her much love evinced that her sins were already forgiven; not, were the condition of her sins being forgiven.