1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Study Note
Study Note
The basis of the mutual love command (1:22) is grounded in the believer's regeneration 'not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever' — making shared new birth rather than shared ethnicity or culture the bond of community. The metaphor of seed-and-birth combines James 1:18 ('of his own will begat he us with the word of truth') and John 1:13 ('born not of blood…but of God'), suggesting an early Christian catechetical complex around word-birth. The immediately following citation of Isaiah 40:6-8 ('the word of the Lord endureth for ever') identifies the living, abiding word with the gospel message, giving Scripture-preaching a role in regeneration that anticipates Reformation Sola Scriptura applications. The 'incorruptible seed' has been read pneumatologically (the Spirit as seed, cf. 1 John 3:9) and sacramentally (baptismal regeneration) in different traditions.
Other Translations
having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth.
being begotten again, not out of seed corruptible, but incorruptible, through a word of God--living and remaining--to the age;
Because you have had a new birth, not from the seed of man, but from eternal seed, through the word of a living and unchanging God.
Cross References
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak …
Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and …
Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but …
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot …
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he …
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, …
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and …
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.