1 Peter 3:20

This verse from 1 Peter serves as a crucial historical example to illustrate God's justice, patience, and the nature of salvation. It connects directly to the preceding discussion of Christ's triumph over spiritual forces, identifying the "spirits in prison" (1 Peter 3:19) with the disobedient people from Noah's era.

Context

Peter draws a parallel between Christ's suffering and subsequent triumph, and the historical event of the Great Flood. He highlights God's interaction with humanity during the days of Noah, a time characterized by widespread wickedness (Genesis 6:5). The verse emphasizes that even in the face of severe disobedience, God extended a period of grace and patience.

Key Themes

• God's Longsuffering and Patience: The phrase "longsuffering of God waited" uses the Greek word makrothymia (μακροθυμία), signifying God's immense patience and forbearance. For 120 years, during which the ark was a preparing, God provided an opportunity for humanity to repent. This demonstrates a core aspect of God's character, as seen in other scriptures like Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9, where His patience is aimed at leading people to repentance.
• Disobedience and Judgment: The "disobedient" refers to those who rejected God's warnings and Noah's preaching (2 Peter 2:5) during that extended period of grace. Their continued rebellion ultimately led to the divine judgment of the flood, emphasizing that God's patience, though vast, does not last indefinitely.
• Salvation for a Few: Only "few, that is, eight souls" were saved. This refers to Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives, as recorded in Genesis 7:13. This highlights the narrowness of the path of salvation for those who choose to obey God's specific instructions, even when it means standing apart from the majority.
• Salvation "by water": This is a crucial and somewhat paradoxical phrase. The water of the flood brought destruction to the ungodly, but it was also the means by which Noah and his family were lifted above the judgment and preserved. They were saved through the water, which separated them from the perishing world. This concept sets the stage for Peter's explanation of baptism in the very next verse, 1 Peter 3:21.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's use of "longsuffering" faithfully translates the Greek term makrothymia, which describes a long-enduring patience, not easily provoked to anger or retribution. It underscores God's willingness to wait and provide opportunity for change. The phrase "saved by water" is not implying that the water itself was the saving agent, but rather that the water served as the medium through which they passed from judgment to safety, highlighting a separation and new beginning.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

• God's Enduring Patience: God's longsuffering character remains constant (Malachi 3:6). He continues to extend grace and time for repentance, desiring that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
• The Urgency of Obedience: The narrative serves as a powerful warning: while God is patient, His patience has a limit. Disobedience to His warnings eventually leads to judgment. We are called to respond to His grace with timely repentance and faith.
• The Nature of Salvation: Just as Noah and his family were saved through a unique act of faith and obedience (building the ark), salvation often involves a clear separation from the world's ways and a commitment to God's specific commands, even when it means being part of a "few."