In the present verse Peter unpacks the consequence that must follow from the fact that his readers have been born again of imperishable seed. He had already given the instruction to “love one another earnestly” (1 Peter 1:22) and then added the reason why: “since you have been born again…of imperishable [seed]” (1 Peter 1:23). He now repeats the concept in inverse order: “so” (“since you have been born again…of imperishable [seed]”) “put away all malice...” (love one another earnestly).