What does 1 Peter 3:20 mean?

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

Explanation

1 Peter 3:20 focuses on the disobedience of human beings and God’s response to such behavior. The verse makes reference to the people who lived in the time of Noah, who were disobedient to God. Their disobedience is contrasted with God’s patience; the term “longsuffering” highlights God’s willingness to withhold judgment and give people time to repent. Despite this patience, only a small number of eight souls—representing Noah’s family—were saved from the flood. The mechanism of their salvation was the ark, which Noah built at God’s command as a means of deliverance from the coming judgment. The “water” mentioned in this verse is significant because it simultaneously brought destruction to the disobedient and salvation to Noah and his family.

Historical Context

1 Peter is generally understood to be a letter written by the apostle Peter to various churches in Asia Minor, around the first century A.D. This epistle addresses Christians who were facing persecution for their faith. The reference to Noah and the flood serves as a powerful example of a righteous minority enduring in the face of widespread unbelief and immorality. During the time Peter was writing, Christians could relate to this account as they were often a minority facing hostility and needed to be reminded of God’s deliverance in times of judgment.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, 1 Peter 3:20 is rich in insights. It reinforces the notion of God’s judgment on the sinful world, but also His mercy towards those who are faithful. The verse invites believers to consider the consequences of disobedience while offering reassurance that God is patient and provides a means of salvation. Many theologians also see the ark and water as prefigurations of baptism, which is mentioned just after in the subsequent verses; the water symbolizes a purifying agent through which believers are saved and enter into a new life, just as Noah was brought through the water to a new existence after the flood.

Practical Applications

In a practical sense, 1 Peter 3:20 encourages individuals to remain faithful even when surrounded by a culture of disobedience. It serves as a reminder of the importance of heeding God’s instructions and remaining patient through difficult circumstances. The verse also suggests that salvation may involve a minority, highlighting that truth and righteousness are not determined by popular opinion or majority rule. This can encourage believers to stand firm in their convictions, even when they feel isolated or unpopular.

Cross-References

• Genesis 6:5-22 – Describes the wickedness of humanity which prompted the flood, God’s instruction to Noah, and the building of the ark.
• Matthew 24:37-39 – Jesus references the days of Noah as being similar to the time of His return, where people were unaware until the flood came.
• 2 Peter 2:5 – Refers to Noah as a preacher of righteousness and the world of the ungodly being brought to judgment by a flood.
• Hebrews 11:7 – Noah’s faith led him to build an ark for the saving of his house which condemned the world.

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language from this verse include:

• “Apeitheo” (ἀπειθέω) – often translated as “disobedient” or “unbelieving,” referring to those who did not respond in obedience to God’s warning about the coming judgment.
• “Makrothumia” (μακροθυμία) – translated as “longsuffering” or “patience,” suggesting a prolonged restraint of anger or judgment.
• “Katasophizomai” (κατασκευάζομαι) – meaning “a preparing” or “building,” referring to the construction of the ark by Noah.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, the story of a great flood is found in various cultural myths, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh in Mesopotamian literature. Often these myths also involve a select individual being saved from a deluge that destroys a corrupt world. However, in the Genesis account, and alluded to in 1 Peter, the focus is on monotheism and the ethical dimension of human behavior in relation to one God, rather than the capriciousness of multiple deities.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the story of Noah and the flood raises questions about the feasibility of a global flood and the logistics of housing all species of animals in an ark. While many scientists view the story as mythological or allegorical, some creation scientists and Christian scholars assert that geological and archaeological evidence may support the occurrence of a large-scale flood event.

Commentaries

In interpreting 1 Peter 3:20, commentators often note the connections to the Noahic narrative in Genesis and the embodiment of God’s patience and judgment. Matthew Henry’s commentary underscores the mercy of God during the time leading up to the flood. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges remarks on the contrast between the disobedient generation of Noah’s time and the “eight souls” saved, seeing these individuals as a type of the Church. John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible discusses how the long-suffering of God is meant to lead to repentance, using the example of Noah’s contemporaries as a warning for the readers.