1 Peter 3:20

Sometime. Or, “formerly.”

Disobedient. Gr. apeithed, “to disbelieve,” “to disobey,” implying deliberate disbelief and intentional disobedience. The sinners of Noah’s day had enough light to make an intelligent decision and warranted no second chance. In fact, they were so utterly “disobedient” that God could no longer tolerate them (see Gen. 6:5-13). Nevertheless, “the longsuffering of God waited” for them to repent. If God “waited” for them, He will surely wait as patiently for us.

When. That is, when the “spirits” — the antediluvians — were disobedient and when “the longsuffering of God waited” for them, “while the ark was a preparing.”

Waited. Gr. apekdechomai, “to wait for patiently.” God longs tenderly for the repentance of sinners. He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9).

Days of Noah. See Gen. 6:5-13.

While. See above under “when.”

A preparing. Or, “being built and equipped.”

Eight. See Gen. 7:7.

Souls. Gr. psuchai, “[living] persons” (see on Matt. 10:28).

Were saved. Literally, “brought safely through,” a phrase also used to describe recovery from illness (see Matt. 14:36) and a successful journey (Acts 23:24). These eight heeded the message sent by Christ and proclaimed by Noah, God’s “preacher of righteousness” to that generation (2 Peter 2:5).

By water. Or, “through water.” The very same waters of the Flood, which buried the “disobedient” sinners of Noah’s day, bore up those within the ark of safety, and thus preserved their lives. The saving of these eight persons “by water” is the climax of this rather long parenthesis about the antediluvians, and Peter’s reason for inserting it. The lesson he draws from their experience is stated in v. 21 — as they were “saved by water” so “baptism doth also now save us.” However, the eight antediluvians and Christians are alike saved by virtue of Christ’s resurrection from the dead (see on vs. 19, 21), for otherwise there would be no hope for either group (see 1 Cor. 15:13-23).