Scriptural
Studies
Preaching to the Spirits in Prison is Not What You Think!
Jesus did not preach to any fallen angels!
Nab B. Sep 12, 2022
“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, Being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit. In which [or by whom] he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison. Because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” (1 Pet 3:18-20) ESV
Christians came up with very unusual interpretations of this difficult passage. Most interpretations are not in harmony with the rest of the scriptures. Let me share with you what I know to make this clear and simple.
Let's first agree on the following before continuing:
Saying that Jesus Christ was "made alive in the Spirit" after his resurrection is the same as saying He "became a life-giving Spirit" to those who obey Him (1 Cor 15:45)
Jesus could not be alive for three days (during his death). Why not? Because He had to be FULLY dead to be a "sin offering". If he was not, His sacrifice would be invalidated. As animal sacrifices had to be killed and bled with no part of it remaining alive, so it was with Jesus.
If Fallen angels are already condemned, there is no sense to proclaim or preach anything to them!
The Meaning of The Spirits in Prison
First, we need to understand who are "the spirits in prisons". Are these humans or fallen angels as they claim? Scripturally, the "spirits in prison" are humans.
The expression refers to humans who are captive to sin and death. The resurrected Jesus became a life-giving Spirit to set people free from the bondage of sin and death. This agrees with Peter's statement in verse18 that:
"Christ suffered...the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God."
The "unrighteous" here meant humans, not fallen angels!
Christ Brings life to Humans
All the cited scriptures below prove that Jesus Christ, the life-giving spirit, has been saving and releasing people (the spirits) from their prisons of captivity to sin and death.
“Having cancelled the debt ascribed to us in the decrees that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross." (Col. 2:15)
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (Rom 8:2)
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek...to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isaiah 61:1)
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me because He has anointed...To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18)
“So that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death...and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.” (Heb 2-14-16)
Why Peter used the Flood Water Analogy
The passage is saying that through Noah's preaching (which was a word from God), he condemned the pre-flood world. And just as the flood water washed away the guilt and sin of the world, so also is the washing away of our guilt (sin) through Christ’s death and resurrection.
The flood water typified Christ's spiritual washing by word,
"That he [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." (Ephesians 5:26)
Peter summed up Christ's work by saying "That he might bring us to God." (1 Pet 3:18) This entire passage is about humans and not about some fallen angels. We are the ones who urgently need to be set free by Jesus Christ to bring us fully to God.