Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Peter 1:23

23 Being born again not of corruptible seed , but of incorruptible , by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

This may refer either, 1. to the general Exhortation to Holiness, v. 14, 15. and then the Argument runs thus; Ye are in your Regeneration become the Children of God, and therefore ought to walk holily, as become his Children [illegible: 1 letter] Or, 2. to the more particular Exhortation to brotherly Love, v. 22, q.d. You are by your Regeneration become spiritual Brethren, and therefore ought to live like Brethren.

Which is it self corrupted ere any thing can be generated out of it, or out of which nothing is begotten, but what is corruptible; so that all such Generations tend but to a mortal Life.

So the Word is said to be, because containing still the same, and being immutable in it self, it changes, and renews the Hearts of those that by Faith receive it. Or, it may be be understood of its being incorruptible effectively, because it leads, or tends to an immortal Life.

The same which he called incorruptible Seed, which is the Instrument in Regeneration, as is implied in the Preposition, by, going before it.

This, and the the following Verb may be joined, either, 1. to God, the VVord of God, who liveth, &c. or rather, 2. to the Word, so our Translation reads it, which word liveth, and abideth, &c. and this agrees best with the Testimony of Isaiah in the next Verse. The Word of God is said to be a living Word, because it enliveneth the Hearts of those that ertertain it.

Marginal references: Joh. 1.13. and 3.5.; James 1.18. 1 Joh. 3.9.