2 Peter 2:5

And spared not. With these words the apostle begins his second illustration concerning the certainty of judgment (cf. on v. 4).

The old world. That is, the world which was before the Flood.

Saved. Gr. phulasso, “to guard,” “to watch,” here, in the sense of “protect” (cf. Gen. 7:16).

Eighth. Gr. ogdoos, “eighth,” that is, accompanied by seven others, in this case, the immediate members of Noah’s family (see Gen. 6:10; 7:7). Peter’s emphasis here is on the fact that so few — only eight — escaped alive from the antediluvian world.

Preacher. Gr. kerux, “herald” (see on 1 Tim. 2:7). From ancient times the office kerux was sacred and his person inviolable, since the herald was regarded as being under the immediate protection of the gods. Noah was the Lord’s “herald of righteousness,” that is, he proclaimed a message concerning righteousness. Josephus (. Antiquities i. 3. 1 [72-74]) records the Jewish tradition that Noah tried to persuade his contemporaries to change their lives for the better (cf. on Gen. 6:3; 1 Peter 3:19, 20).

Bringing in. Rather, “while he brought.”

Flood. See on Gen. 7:17-24.

Ungodly. Gr. asebeis, singular asebes (see on Rom. 4:5). That Peter’s description of the antediluvian world was justified may be seen from Gen. 6:1-7 (cf. PP 90-92).