Pastor John,
I’ve have been reviewing Greek prepositions by looking at various verses. This one from 1 Peter 3:20 is interesting to me, particularly the last part where the preposition dia is used. I never quite understood that part of the verse as the King James Version translates it, “eight souls were saved by water”. It seems that it should read that “eight souls were saved from water.”
“ἀπειθήσασίν ποτε, ὅτε ἀπεξεδέχετο ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ μακροθυμία ἐν ἡμέραις Νῶε, κατασκευαζομένης κιβωτοῦ, εἰς ἣν ὀλίγαι, τοῦτ’ ἔστιν ὀκτὼ ψυχαί, διεσώθησαν δι’ ὕδατος·”
“Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. “(KJV)
Some translations say “saved through water” or “brought safely through water”.
It looks like water is in the genitive case, so I guess that means dia could be translated either through or by.
How would you translate that part of the verse?
Thanks,
Tom
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Hi Tom.
“By” is the correct translation of dia in this verse. The righteous were saved from having to live among the wicked by the massive amount of water God sent. The Flood destroyed the wicked, along with the world. The next time God saves the righteous, it will be by fire:
2Peter 3:10-12 (KJV): “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?”
This fire will destroy the wicked along with this world, and the righteous will thus be saved by fire from having to live in a wicked world. Instead of this wicked world, God has prepared for His people a far better place:
2Peter 3:13 (KJV): “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
So, yes, Noah and his family were saved by water, just as God’s NT people will someday be saved by fire.
Hope that helps.
Pastor John