He Went and Preached To The Spirits In Prison?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bulletin Articles Spirits in PrisonSome sincere religious folks believe that while Jesus was in the grave for three days, He journeyed to Hades and personally preached the gospel to the “spirits” which were imprisoned there. As a proof-text, they use 1 Peter 3:19. In I Peter 3:17, Peter uses our Lord as an example of “suffering for well doing,” when he states in 1 Peter 3:18-20:
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.“
Let’s analyze the next three verses with the above context in mind.
1 Peter 3:18 – Regarding suffering, our Lord died a cruel death on the cross, but not for any crime He committed. He died because he loved us, even though we were sinners (Romans 5:6-8). By His willing sacrifice, we have been freed from sin (John 10:18; Romans 6:17), reconciling us to our Heavenly Father (Ephesians 2:16-18). We were spiritually dead, but we are now alive to God through Christ (Romans 6:11).
1 Peter 3:19 – The subject of this verse is the word “he” and refers back to Christ in verse 18. Let’s ask, “What did Christ do?” Peter answers, “He went and preached to the spirits in prison.” This leads us to another question. “Who were the spirits in prison?” The next verse gives us the answer.
1 Peter 3:20 – The “spirits in prison” were the disobedient people who lived during the days while Noah was building the ark. However, when Peter wrote his letter (A.D. 63-64), these “spirits” were in a disembodied state, being under restraint as wicked beings (cf. 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:6; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:7). Peter is using a figure of speech known as a “prolepsis,” where something is spoken of out of its normal time frame. They were in the Hadean realm (“prison”) when Peter wrote, but were physically alive in Noah’s time (1 Peter 1:11).
Take careful note that this verse does not say that Jesus preached directly to the spirits in prison. So how did Christ accomplish this preaching? That proclamation was done through the Holy Spirit. How did Christ preach through the Spirit? Earlier in his letter, Peter discussed the role of the prophets in our salvation in I Peter 1:10-12. These prophets spoke concerning our salvation, but they did not understand what was being revealed to them by the Spirit of Christ. This same Spirit is called the Holy Spirit in I Peter 1:12. Thus, the Spirit of Christ is another name for the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11). The prophets during the time of the Old Testament were inspired by the same Spirit sent by Christ. In fact, all prophecy comes from God through the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21; cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).
Conclusion
Throughout the ages, the message of salvation through the death of Jesus Christ has been preached (cf. 1 Peter 1:11; 2 Peter 1:21; Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:5-6; Colossians 1:23). The world in Noah’s day was overflowing with “the wickedness of man” (Genesis 6:5). Yet, even in this low point in the history of mankind, God permitted salvation to be proclaimed. Sadly, the “spirits” mentioned in 1 Peter 3:19, did not heed the message. They remained in the bondage of sin that chains each sinner (Romans 6:20). We learn that only eight souls where saved from that wicked world (1 Peter 3:20). Today, this same message of salvation is offered again, a salvation offered by the death of Jesus upon the cross (Romans 5:17-19). How many today will heed the warning?
Dear reader, you have the opportunity this very hour to break the bonds of sin through obedience to Jesus Christ (Romans 6:17; Hebrews 5:9; Acts 8:26-39; cf. 1 Peter 3:20-21). The question is, “will you?”