1 Peter 3:21
What does 1 Peter 3:21 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Peter 3:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Peter 3:21 means
Baptism now saves “after a true likeness”—not as a mere washing of dirt from the body, but as the appeal (or pledge) of a good conscience toward God, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The outward sign points to an inward reality: a conscience cleansed by Christ’s work and sincerely committed to Him. Baptism saves in the sense that it unites the believer, by faith, with the risen Christ it signifies. The saving power is not in water but in Jesus’ resurrection, to which baptism bears witness. Like the ark, baptism marks passage through judgment into new life. Thus believers publicly own Christ, receiving and declaring the salvation He secured and applying it to themselves by faith.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000which 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;
KJV
King James Version · 1611The 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901which 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;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And baptism, of which this is an image, now gives you salvation, not by washing clean the flesh, but by making you free from the sense of sin before God, through the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862also to which an antitype doth now save us--baptism, (not a putting away of the filth of flesh, but the question of a good conscience in regard to God,) through the rising again of Jesus Christ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Whereunto baptism, being of the like form, now saveth you also: not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but, the examination of a good conscience towards God by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890which figure also now saves you, [even] baptism, not a putting away of [the] filth of flesh, but [the] demand as beforeGod of a good conscience, by [the] resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Context
Flowing from the flood imagery (verse 20), Peter draws a typological line to Christian baptism. He guards against misunderstanding by denying a merely external washing and affirming the inward appeal of a conscience turned to God. The stress on Jesus’ resurrection aligns with verse 18’s “made alive in the spirit” and anticipates the exaltation of verse 22. The argument reassures suffering Christians: they belong to the risen Christ, have passed through judgment in Him, and therefore can endure with hope, knowing their salvation is anchored beyond the reach of earthly powers.
v.20that aforetime were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water:
v.21This passage
v.22who is on the right hand of God, having gone into heaven; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Titus 3:5
not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
- Ezekiel 36:25
And I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
- Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on his name.
- Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
- Acts 8:36
And as they went on the way, they came unto a certain water; and the eunuch saith, Behold, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
- Romans 5:14
Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the likeness of Adam’s transgression, who is a figure of him that was to come.
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