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deluge. 2) By mention of water , Peter conveniently passes to the subject of baptism. 3) The destruction of the world by water is a prelude to its destruction by fire, 2 Pet. iii. 6, 7, in conjunction with the last judgment, ch. iv. 5. Nor is it matter of surprise that the word sometime is used in a wider meaning than the days of Noah ; since also the days of Noah altogether were many more than the days of the building of the ark ; but these, however, are immediately added. Compare with this the definite marking of time, which gradually becomes more particular, in Mark xiv. 30 ; Luke iv. 25 ; Deut. xxxi. 10. O what ample (noble) preaching ! — xaratrxsua^o- /jj'svris xt(3urov , while an [not the ] ark was in preparation) Ktfiojrou without the article : Heb. xi. 7. The expression is adapted to the mind of the unbelieving spectators. This building occupied a long season, for it is not probable that many assisted Noah in his work. During the whole of that time especially the long-suffering of God waited. — e/g into which) Having entered into the ark by faith,
they sought and found safety. — oX/yo/, a few) It is the more probable that some out of so great a multitude repented, when the rain came ; and though they had not believed while God was waiting, and while the ark was building, afterwards, when the ark was com- pleted, and punishment assailed them, began to believe ; and to these, and to all like them, Christ afterwards presented Himself as a preacher of grace. Luther attributed less weight to this interpreta- tion in his homilies on 1st Peter, published in a.d. 1523 ; but shortly before his death he more decidedly embraced it. There is a well- known passage in his Comm, on Gen. vii. 1, and his Exposition of Hosea agrees with it, published in the year 1545, in which, ch. vi. 2, he referred the two days (spoken of by the prophet) to the descent into hell ; and quoting this passage of Peter, he says ; Here Peter plainly says , not only that Christ appeared to the fathers and patriarchs who were dead , some of whom undoubtedly Christ , on His resurrection , raised with Himself to eternal life , but also preached to some who in the time of Noah did not believe , and waited for the patience of God , that is , who hoped that God would not deal so severely with all flesh , in order that they might recognise that their sins were FORGIVEN through the sacrifice of Christ. In accordance with this are the comments of L. Osiander on this passage, of Hutter , in Expl. Concordise, p. 993 ; and also of Peter Martyr , T. I. LL. CC., col. 783. — oxrw, eight) Ham, who was about to incur the curse, being taken from this number, there were seven, a sacred number. — hi vbccrog, through water) did, through; an appro-
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