1 Peter 3:21
19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In the ark a few people, only eight souls, were saved through water.
And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- KJV
- The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- WEB
- This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- ASV
- which also after a true likeness doth now save you, [even] baptism, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the interrogation of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
- DARBY
- which figure also now saves you, [even] baptism, not a putting away of [the] filth of flesh, but [the] demand as before God of a good conscience, by [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- BLB
- which also corresponds to the baptism now saving you⁺, not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the demand of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
- ÅB
- det som også nå frelser oss i sitt motbilde, dåpen, som ikke er avleggelse av kjødets urenhet, men en god samvittighets pakt med Gud ved Jesu Kristi oppstandelse,
- OTB
- Og dette vannet symboliserer dåpen som nå også frelser dere—ikke fjerning av skitt fra kroppen, men løftet om en klar samvittighet overfor Gud. Det frelser dere ved Jesu Kristi oppstandelse,
- B1930
- det som også nu frelser oss i sitt motbillede, dåpen, som ikke er avleggelse av kjødets urenhet, men en god samvittighets pakt med Gud ved Jesu Kristi opstandelse,
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Read in contextEzekiel 36:25–26
I will also sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.
Read in contextGalatians 3:27
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Read in contextActs 22:16
And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized, and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’
Read in contextActs 2:38
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Read in contextEphesians 5:26
to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Read in contextRomans 10:9–10
that if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Read in context1 Peter 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Read in context