1Pe 3:20-21 | PNT | STEP | The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah . They had then refused to obey the call to repentance. It is stated in that the long suffering of God waited 120 years. This difficult passage has been given two interpretations. The more common view is that Jesus, after his suffering, during the interval before his resurrection, went without the body in a spirit form, to these antediluvians and preached to them. If this view is correct, it only teaches that an offer of salvation was then made to these disobedient ones who had never before heard of Christ before their final judgment. It furnishes no comfort to those that have an opportunity and reject it in this life. It only shows that one opportunity is given to all. The other view is that Christ went "in spirit" in the person of Noah and by him preached to those who were afterwards held in prison on account of their disobedience. The first view seems more in harmony with the context; the second furnishes fewer theological difficulties. Wherein few, that is, eight souls . Only eight souls out of a great multitude were saved; these were saved by water , since it bore up the ark. The Greek word "dia", rendered "by", means "by means of".

‏ 1 Peter 3:20-21

The long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah. They had then refused to obey the call to repentance. It is stated in Ge 6:3 that the long suffering of God waited 120 years. This difficult passage has been given two interpretations. The more common view is that Jesus, after his suffering, during the interval before his resurrection, went without the body in a spirit form, to these antediluvians and preached to them. If this view is correct, it only teaches that an offer of salvation was then made to these disobedient ones who had never before heard of Christ before their final judgment. It furnishes no comfort to those that have an opportunity and reject it in this life. It only shows that one opportunity is given to all. The other view is that Christ went "in spirit" in the person of Noah and by him preached to those who were afterwards held in prison on account of their disobedience. The first view seems more in harmony with the context; the second furnishes fewer theological difficulties.

Wherein few, that is, eight souls. Only eight souls out of a great multitude were saved; these were saved by water, since it bore up the ark. The Greek word "dia", rendered "by", means "by means of". The like figure whereunto [even] baptism doth also now save us. Literally, "the antitype now saves us, Baptism". Says Alford, ``Water saved them, bearing up the ark; it saves us, becoming to us baptism.'' As they entered the Ark, we are "baptized into Christ", the Savior. See Ga 3:27.

Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh. Not as a Jewish ceremonial washing, which was only a purification of the flesh, but it is the answer of a good conscience. "The interrogation of a good conscience" (Revised Version). "Inquiry" would be still better. The soul seeking the forgiveness of sins "inquires" What shall I do to remove the sense of unforgiven sins and make my conscience void of offense? The answer is "Repent and be baptized", etc. See Ac 2:38. He who obeys the word of the Lord has the "inquiry" answered in baptism.

By the resurrection. Baptism would be meaningless and vain were it not for the resurrection of Christ. It points directly to the burial and resurrection of the Lord. See Ro 6:1-6