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a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead' (1
Pet. 1:3).
'Being born again (anagennao), not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever'
(1 Pet. 1:23).
Apart from the scientific fact that 'Life springs only from life', the
Word of God is so intimately bound up with the thought of resurrection in the
context of this verse as to impress the mind with the obvious intention of
the writer.
The passage is the natural outcome of the preceding context, and leads
to that which succeeds it. What does this reveal? In verse 3 we have 'hope'
and 'resurrection'. The hope moreover being defined as 'lively'. In verse
4, an inheritance is in view, and this is said to be 'incorruptible'. Coming
nearer, verse 21 emphasizes the resurrection saying, 'Who by Him do believe
in God, that raised Him up from the dead', and associates 'hope' with
'faith'. In the verses that follow verse 23, 'the Word of the Lord' is
placed in vivid contrast with 'all flesh' that is likened to grass that
withers. This word 'endureth for ever', and 'this is the word which by the
gospel is preached unto you' (1 Pet. 1:24,25).
Aphthartos 'incorruptible' occurs seven times in the New Testament.
Incorruptibility is ascribed to God Himself (Rom. 1:23; 1 Tim. 1:17); to the
crown and inheritance (1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Pet. 1:4); to the state of those raised
from the dead and to the Word of God (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Pet. 1:23), and to the
hidden man of the heart (1 Pet. 3:4). The relationship of these seven
references can be demonstrated by putting them into correspondence, thus:
A
Rom. 1:23. The glory of the uncorruptible God.
God.
B
1 Cor. 9:25. The incorruptible crown.
Crown.
C 1 Cor. 15:52.
The dead raised incorruptible.
Raised.
A
1 Tim. 1:17.
The King eternal, immortal.
King.
B
1 Pet. 1:4.
An inheritance incorruptible.
Inheritance.
C
1 Pet. 1:23. Born again ...
of incorruptible seed.
Born again.
A
1 Pet. 3:4. That which is not corruptible.
Heart.
Not only is The Word of God allied with resurrection by the word
'incorruptible', it is also contrasted with flesh that is like grass that
withereth, and is declared to 'live', 'abide' and 'endure' for ever.
Zao 'living' is used by Peter just seven times, and is related to
'hope', 'the Word of God', 'stone' and'stones', 'righteousness', 'the quick'
as opposed to the dead, and to living 'according to God in the spirit' (1
Pet. 1:3,23; 2:4,5,24; 4:5,6).
Meno 'abide', 'endure' occurs in 1 Peter 1:23 and 25, a double emphasis
upon the abiding nature of the Word of truth as contrasted with the fleeting
character of all flesh.
The word that is described as 'living', 'incorruptible' and 'enduring'
is called a 'seed'. The believer has been born again not of corruptible but
of incorruptible seed. We have quoted science earlier in its dictum 'Life
comes only from life'. Another statement made in the name of science is 'all