1 Peter 3:20

1 Peter 3:20 that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:

Expanded Translation

(spirits) that aforetime refused to believe and obey, when the longsuffering (patience, self-restraint) of God waited it out in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, inside of which few, that is eight souls (persons) were saved by means of water.

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that aforetime were disobedient

(See the latter word defined in 1 Peter 2:8.)

This phrase certainly shows when these imprisoned spirits were disobedient. And, unless all other plain teachings of the Scriptures be cast aside, we can only believe that the preaching was done to them at the time of their disobedience, and while they still had opportunity to repent, that is, while they were still living beings and in the flesh. (Note questions, end of chapter.)

when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah

LONGSUFFERINGmakrothumia, is generally used in reference to a man who perseveres patiently and bravely, particularly in the enduring of misfortunes and troubles. Trench says that it is the self-restraint which does not hastily retaliate a wrong. The word stands in contrast to one who would become quickly full of wrath or revenge. How grateful we may be that we serve such a God!

while the ark was a preparing

It is our opinion that the preaching mentioned in 1 Peter 3:19 was also to the imprisoned spirits during this same period of time. 2 Peter 2:5 speaks of Noah as a preacher of righteousness. Genesis 6:3 states that God allowed 120 years between the time he decided to destroy the earth and the time of its actual destruction by the flood. Precisely how much of this 120 years Noah spent preaching is not known.

Was a preparingone word in the original, kataskevadzoa word meaning to prepare, put in readiness, hence to construct. build.

In view of the fact that the antediluvians as a whole did not believe Noah's preaching, he and his immediate family must have done most of the preparing themselves.

wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved

The eight souls are mentioned in Genesis 7:7.

SAVEDdiasodzo (from dia), through, and sodzo, to save, to bring safe through, to convey in safety; but passively, as here: to reach a place or state of safety; hence, be saved, out of danger, rescued.

through water

That is, the ark was held up by water. Water was employed in their preservation in an important way and they, in a definite sense, owed their safety to that element. Though water spelled the damnation of the rebellious, it meant the salvation of the obedient. In like manner, we ourselves owe our salvation in an important way, to the same component. The stress in the illustration is not on the mode used, but rather that the same element was present in both casestheir salvation and ours.

It is striking to see the importance of water in connection with salvation down through the ages. It played an important role in the salvation of Noah and his family. It certainly was important in the deliverance of the Israelites when they were baptized in the cloud and in the sea as they escaped from the pursuing Egyptians. It was an important element as they crossed the Jordan and entered into the Promised Land. And even in the rites and ceremonies of the Old Testament Jew, water played an integral part. Should we, then, be so amazed that water should have an important place in the salvation of mankind in the Christian age?