Chuck Northrop

In 1 Peter 1:22-23, Peter informs us that Christians are born of incorruptible seed. Here Peter says, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” The word “incorruptible” means undecaying (in essence or continuance): -not (in-, un-) corruptible, immortal. Synonyms of this word would include immortal, undying, enduring, unfailing, incapable of decay.

Paul used the word corrupt from which incorruptible comes in 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” Paul also uses it with reference to the marring of individual Christians by leading them away into apostasy and error. Notice that Paul uses a “play on words.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). The words translated “defile” and “destroy” are from the same root word in the Greek. “Defile” is the present indicative showing that they were presently corrupting the temple of God. “Destroy” is the future indicative showing that God would in the future corrupt, decay, or bring to ruin those that corrupt the temple of God.

Peter contrasts the Word of God which is the incorruptible seed with that which is corruptible. The “seed” denotes the origin or source and the “Word of God” suggests the medium through which it imparts itself. The incorruptible seed is that “which liveth and abideth for ever.” Two verses later Peter says, “But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you (1 Peter 1:25). The contrast is to humanity of which Peter says, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away” (1 Peter 1:24).

We can see this enduring quality of the Word of God in several other passages. Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” Peter’s declaration of the durability of the word was an echo of the prophet Isaiah, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever” (Isaiah 40:8). As we understand this quality of the Word in light of the temporal world in which we live, we must realize that our every effort must be to the glory of the Kingdom.

It is the incorruptible seed of which Christians are born. And it is the incorruptible seed that must be taught and preached to a world of hopelessness and fear. Found in this wonderful incorruptible seed is the answers of life and happiness. Live it, love it, and abide in it and the incorruptible inheritance of which Peter spoke will be yours. “To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4).