The Spirits In Prison
1 Peter 3:18-22
The mystery of the “spirits in prison” (vv. 19–20) has perplexed students for years and not all interpreters agree on its meaning. Just keep in mind the main lesson of this passage: Christ suffered wrongly, but God honored Him and gave Him glory (v. 22). The rest of this passage describes mainly the good conscience of the believer toward God. As for the problems raised by other parts of the passage, several explanations have been given.
Some suggest that Christ gave the dead in hell a second chance to be saved, but this is contrary to what is taught in the rest of the Bible. Others suggest that Peter is only saying that the same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead (v. 18) preached through Noah, and that Christ, between His death and resurrection, visited the spirits of these lost people in prison (the world of the dead) and announced His victory. Why Jesus visited these men and not others is not explained.
One good explanation, however, is that the “spirits in prison” are the fallen angels of Gen. 6 who consorted with the daughters of men, “going after strange flesh” as Jude 6–7 explains it. The word “prison” in 3:19 refers to the place of judgment mentioned in 2 Peter 2:4, “chains of darkness.” It was this violation of God’s order that helped bring on the Flood, which explains why Peter mentions Noah. Note too that Peter’s theme is the subjection of angels to Christ (v. 22). These fallen angels were not subject to Him, and therefore they were judged.
Between His death and resurrection, Christ visited these angels in prison and announced His victory over Satan. The word “preached” in 3:19 means “to announce” and not “to preach the Gospel.” Jesus announced their doom and His victory over all angels and authorities. It is likely that at this time Christ “led captivity captive” (Eph. 4:8), rescued godly souls dwelling in Hades (see Luke 16:19–31), and took them to heaven. There is not one hint here of anybody having a second chance to be saved after death.
Peter then ties Noah to the subject of baptism. The flood was actually a global baptism of water; the world is now being reserved for a global baptism of fire (2 Peter 3:5–7). Peter does not say that baptism saves us or that water washes away sins. In fact, he makes it clear that baptism cannot put away the filth of the flesh. Submission to the Lord in baptism is an inward matter, the answer of a good conscience toward God.
Baptism is a picture of death, burial, and resurrection. Christ’s baptism in water by John the Baptist was a symbol of His baptism of suffering on the cross (Luke 3:21–22; 12:50). Christ Himself pointed to Jonah as the sign of His death, burial, and resurrection. The water that buried the wicked world bore Noah to safety. The water did not save him; the ark did. In this way Noah anticipates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. Note too that Noah sent out a dove; and when Christ was baptized, a dove lit upon Him.
This is a complex passage, so keep the main lessons in mind: (1) Christ is Lord of all, and we must submit to Him; (2) a good conscience makes us strong in testing; (3) Christian baptism, pictured by the flood, illustrates death, burial, and resurrection but does not save the soul. Baptism is important because it indicates our submission to the Lord.
Wiersbe, Warren W. Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992. Print.
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