1 Peter 1:23

“Being born again, etc.] As they were of God, according to his abundant mercy, by the resurrection of Christ, to a lively hope of a glorious inheritance; as in (<600103>1 Peter 1:3) and therefore seeing they were brethren in a spiritual relation, they ought to love as brethren; being children of the same Father, belonging to the same family and household, having the same spirit, and the same nature and disposition, and being members one of another, and heirs of the same grace and glory; and not only so, but were taught of God their Father, in regeneration, to love one another: it became them highly, therefore, to exercise that grace, and particularly since they were born, not of corruptible…”

“Christian brotherhood flows from our new birth of an imperishable seed, the abiding word of God. This is the consideration urged here to lead us to exercise brotherly love. As natural relationship gives rise to natural affection, so spiritual relationship gives rise to spiritual, and therefore abiding love, even as the seed from which it springs is abiding, not transitory as earthly things. of . . . of . . . by--"The word of God" is not the material of the spiritual new birth, but its mean or medium. By means of the word the man receives the incorruptible seed of the Holy Spirit, and so becomes one "born again": Joh 3:3-5, "born of water and the Spirit": as there is but one Greek article to…”

“Being born again - See the notes at John 3:3. Not of corruptible seed - “Not by virtue of any descent from human parents” - Doddridge. The result of such a birth, or of being begotten in this way - for so the word rendered “born again” more properly signifies - is only corruption and decay. We are begotten only to die. There is no permanent, enduring life produced by that. It is in this sense that this is spoken of as, “corruptible seed,” because it results in decay and death. The word here rendered “seed” - σπορά spora - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. But of incorruptible - By truth, communicating a living principle to the soul which can never decay. Compare 1 John 3:9; “His…”

“Which liveth - Is full of divine virtue. And abideth the same for ever. 1 Peter 1:24”

“born: Pe1 1:3; Joh 1:3, Joh 3:5 not: Mal 2:3; Rom 1:23; Co1 15:53, Co1 15:54 but: Jo1 3:9, Jo1 5:18 by: Pe1 1:25; Jer 23:28; Mat 24:35; Joh 6:63; Heb 4:12; Jam 1:18 1 Peter 1:24”