The 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:
Whereunto. A B C, Vulgate, read х ho (G3739) for hoo (G3739)] 'which'-literally, 'which (namely, water, in general; being) the antitype (of the water of the flood) is now saving (the salvation being not yet fully realized, cf. 1 Corinthians 10:1-2; 1 Corinthians 10:5; Jude 1:5; puts into a state of salvation) us also (so B C; but 'Aleph (') A, Vulgate, read 'You also;' as well as Noah and his party), to wit, baptism.' Water saved Noah, not of itself, but by sustaining the ark built in faith on God's word: it was to him the sign and mean of a regeneration of the earth. It betokened a death to be brought safe through, preliminary to a resurrection. Perishing humanity is the old man; Noah and the saved the newborn creature: the water that separated the two answers to baptism (Romans 6:3-4). The flood was for Noah a baptism, as the passage through the Red Sea for the Israelites. By the flood he and his family were transferred from the old world to the new; from immediate destruction to lengthened probation; from the companionship of the wicked to communion with God; from severing all bonds between the creature and the Creator to the privileges of the covenant: so we by spiritual baptism. As there was a Ham who forfeited the privileges, so many now. The antitypical water, namely, baptism, saves you also, not of itself, but the spiritual thing conjoined with it, repentance and faith, of which it is the seal, as Peter explains. Compare the union of the sign and thing signified, John 3:5; Ephesians 5:26; Titus 3:5: cf. 1 John 5:6.
Not the ... - "Flesh" is emphatic. "Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh" (as by a mere water-baptism, unaccompanied with the Spirit's baptism, cf. Ephesians 2:11), but of the soul. The ark (Christ and His Spirit-filled Church), not the water, is the instrument of salvation: the water only flowed round the ark; so not the mere water-baptism, but water when accompanied with the Spirit.
Answer, х eperooteema (G1906)] - 'interrogation,' namely, of candidates for baptism (Acts 8:37); eliciting confession of faith "toward God," and renunciation of Satan (Augustine, 'Ad Catechumenos,' b. 4:; Cyprian Ep. 7:, 'Ad Rogation'), which, when flowing, from "a good, conscience," assure one of being "saved." Literally, 'a good conscience's interrogation (including the satisfactory answer) toward God.' Metonymy: a conscience that can bear interrogation in relation to the all-seeing God, and can answer, it is good and cleansed (Hebrews 9:14; Hebrews 10:22). I prefer this to (Wahl, Alford, etc.) 'inquiry of a good conscience after God:' none of the parallels alleged, not even 2 Samuel 11:7, Septuagint, is strictly in point. Byzantine Greek idiom (whereby the term meant - (1) The question; (2) the stipulation; (3) the engagement), easily flowing from the usage in Peter, confirms the former.
By the resurrection of Jesus - joined with 'saves:' in so far as baptism applies the power of Christ's resurrection. As Christ's death unto sin is the source of the believer's death unto, and so deliverance from, sin's penalty and power, so His resurrection-life is the source of the believer's new spiritual life.