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Scott's Reference Library
1 Peter 3:18 through 1 Peter 3:22 (NIV)
18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous,
to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the
Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20who
disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark
was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through
water, 21and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the
removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God.
It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22who has gone into heaven and
is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 14-22
We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to
glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should
be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no
room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The
conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad
condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering extreme,
comfortless, and destructive. Surely it is better to suffer for well-doing than
for evil-doing, whatever our natural impatience at times may suggest. The
example of Christ is an argument for patience under sufferings. In the case of
our Lord’s suffering, he that knew no sin, suffered instead of those who knew no
righteousness. The blessed end and design of our Lord’s sufferings were, to
reconcile us to God, and to bring us to eternal glory. He was put to death in
respect of his human nature, but was quickened and raised by the power of the
Holy Spirit. If Christ could not be freed from sufferings, why should Christians
think to be so? God takes exact notice of the means and advantages people in all
ages have had. As to the old world, Christ sent his Spirit; gave warning by
Noah. But though the patience of God waits long, it will cease at last. And the
spirits of disobedient sinners, as soon as they are out of their bodies, are
committed to the prison of hell, where those that despised Noah’s warning now
are, and from whence there is no redemption. Noah’s salvation in the ark upon
the water, which carried him above the floods, set forth the salvation of all
true believers. That temporal salvation by the ark was a type of the eternal
salvation of believers by baptism of the Holy Spirit. To prevent mistakes, the
apostle declares what he means by saving baptism; not the outward ceremony of
washing with water, which, in itself, does no more than put away the filth of
the flesh, but that baptism, of which the baptismal water formed the sign. Not
the outward ordinance, but when a man, by the regeneration of the Spirit, was
enabled to repent and profess faith, and purpose a new life, uprightly, and as
in the presence of God. Let us beware that we rest not upon outward forms. Let
us learn to look on the ordinances of God spiritually, and to inquire after the
spiritual effect and working of them on our consciences. We would willingly have
all religion reduced to outward things. But many who were baptized, and
constantly attended the ordinances, have remained without Christ, died in their
sins, and are now past recovery. Rest not then till thou art cleansed by the
Spirit of Christ and the blood of Christ. His resurrection from the dead is that
whereby we are assured of purifying and peace.