3:21a
And: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as And here introduces a new thought on the same topic. In some languages it may be more natural to begin a new sentence here, as the Berean Standard Bible and some other versions do. For example:
And that water is a picture of baptism… (New Living Translation (2004))
this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also: Peter was saying that Noah’s flood pointed forward in some way to Christian baptism. There are various ways of expressing this:
which was a symbol pointing to baptism, which now saves you (Good News Translation)
-or-
baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you (New Revised Standard Version)
-or-
It is the baptism corresponding to this water which saves you now (New Jerusalem Bible)
this water symbolizes the baptism: The Greek text that the Berean Standard Bible translates as this water symbolizes the baptism is literally “this/which is an antitype/symbol of baptism.” The Berean Standard Bible has supplied the word water. “This/which” can also be understood as referring to the whole experience of passing through the flood. This is implied by the NET Bible (context is given), which says:
20c In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were delivered through water. 21a And this prefigured baptism… (NET Bible)
symbolizes: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as symbolizes in this context refers to representing something that is still future. Consider how you might say that something represents or illustrates something else that has not happened yet. Some other ways symbolizes has been translated are:
is a picture of (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
is like (New Century Version)
-or-
which corresponds to (Revised Standard Version)
baptism: The word baptism refers to the ceremony of ritual washing to purify someone or something. It is connected to a person being purified from sin.
In translating this word, be sure to choose a term that is acceptable to all the churches in your area. Unless there is a term already in use by all churches, it may be better to borrow the word from Greek or your national language.
Here are some ways to translate baptism :
• Use a descriptive phrase:
sacred washing
-or-
purification/initiation ⌊for God⌋
-or-
entering water
• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that in this context it has a special connection with God. For example:
God’s ceremonial bath
-or-
initiation washing for God
• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. In some areas this term may have been borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.
In some languages you may need to use a verb to translate baptism. For example:
⌊ritually⌋ wash/clean
-or-
initiate ⌊people⌋ in/with water
-or-
purify people in God’s ceremonial bath
that now saves you also: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as saves means to rescue someone from danger or trouble. In this context, saves is being used in a very general way. The act of receiving baptism does not directly save a person. Baptism is an outward symbol of what God does when he cleanses a person, raises him from spiritual death, and gives him new life.
Some other ways to translate saves include:
rescues
-or-
causes you to escape
3:21b
not the removal of dirt from the body: The phrase not the removal of dirt from the body means “baptism is not about removing dirt from your body.” Baptism was a form of ritual washing, but it was not the cleaning of the body that was important. Some other ways this phrase has been translated include:
not the washing of dirt from the body (New Century Version)
-or-
more than just washing your body (Contemporary English Version)
3:21c
but: The Greek conjunction that the Berean Standard Bible translates as but introduces a contrast. Peter had just said in 3:21b what aspect of baptism was not important, and now in 3:31c he states what aspect of baptism is important. Translate this contrast in a way that is natural in your language.
the pledge of a clear conscience: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as pledge literally means “request” or “appeal.” In this context it can mean “promise,” “appeal,” or “answer.” There are therefore several ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as the pledge of a clear conscience :
(1) It means “asking for a clear conscience.” For example:
an appeal to God for a clear conscience (Revised Standard Version)
(New American Standard Bible, God’s Word, Revised Standard Version)
(2) It means “making a promise from a clean conscience.” For example:
the promise made to God from a good conscience (Good News Translation)
(NET Bible, New Century Version, Good News Translation; probably New Jerusalem Bible, New International Version)
(3) It means “promising to live with a clear conscience.” This interpretation has the strongest support from biblical scholars. It is a possible understanding of the New Jerusalem Bible:
the pledge of a good conscience (New Jerusalem Bible)
(possibly Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, New Jerusalem Bible)
(4) It means “asking ⌊for salvation/forgiveness⌋ from a clear conscience.” For example:
the appeal made to God from a good conscience (Revised English Bible)
(New Living Translation (2004), Revised English Bible)
(5) It means “responding from a clear conscience.” For example:
the answer of a good conscience (King James Version)
(King James Version, probably Contemporary English Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). However, any of the interpretations are possible, and you may wish to consult the major language version in your area.
toward God: There are two ways of understanding the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as toward God :
(1) It means toward God and modifies the phrase “good conscience.” For example:
the pledge of a good conscience toward God (New International Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, Good News Translation, New Jerusalem Bible, Contemporary English Version, New Century Version, Revised English Bible, NET Bible)
(2) It means to God and modifies the word “pledge/appeal/answer.” For example:
an appeal to God for a good conscience (New American Standard Bible)
(Revised Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), God’s Word, New Century Version, New American Standard Bible)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), which has more commentary support.
3:21d
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The Berean Standard Bible has associated this verse part with 3:21a by setting off 3:21b and 3:21c with dashes.
In this verse part Peter explained how being baptized could be said to save a person. It is because Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead that people who are baptized are saved.
the resurrection of Jesus Christ: The phrase the resurrection refers to the event when God caused Jesus to live again. Some other ways resurrection can be translated are:
rise from the dead
-or-
come alive from the dead
-or-
⌊God⌋ caused…to live again
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