1 Peter 3:21 (KJV)

Passage

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:

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

1 Peter 3:20 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.

1 Peter 3:21 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:

1 Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "like", "figure", "whereunto", "even", "baptism", "doth", "save", and "putting". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "like" and "figure", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 20's "Which sometime were disobedient when once the..." into verse 22's "Who is gone into heaven and is...", so "like" and "figure" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "like" and "figure" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.