If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
Heading of the second division of the letter: 'God is righteous, therefore everyone that doeth righteousness is born of Him.' Love is the grand principle of "righteousness" selected for discussion, 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:1-3.
If ye know ... ye know, х Eideete (G1492) - ginooskete (G1097)] - 'If ye are aware (are in possession of the knowledge) ... ye discern also that,' etc. Ye are aware that God (both "the Father," of whom the believer is born, end of this verse, and 1 John 3:1; and "the Son," 1 John 2:1; 1 John 2:23) is righteous; ye must thereby perceive also the consequence of that truth-namely, 'that everyone that doeth righteousness (and he alone: the righteousness such as the righteous God approves) is born of Him.' The righteous begetteth 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: 'The divine energy by whose power God wills and does all things 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 are practical, and have their being 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, therefore the source of righteousness: when a man doeth righteousness, we know that he has acquired by new birth 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). Compare Luke 7:47; Luke 7:50: her much love evinced that her sins were already forgiven; not, were the condition of her sins being forgiven.