gracEmail
Edward Fudge
SPIRITS IN PRISON (1)
A brother writes: "First Peter 3:18-22 stumps me. I just can't understand that preaching to the spirits in prison. Do you have any clue to what Peter is referring?"
* * *
As you know, First Peter is written to believers who are suffering for their Christian faith at the hands of unbelieving relatives, neighbors and associates (1:6-7; 2:12; 2:19-24; 3:6; 4:12-19; 5:10). Peter's longest discussion of suffering for Christ begins at 3:14 and goes through 4:6. The passage you mention comes in the middle of this section. Throughout the epistle, Peter points to Jesus Christ as the great example of suffering for God's sake. The passage you mention begins with the spotlight on Jesus.
In 3:18, Peter notes that Jesus was crucified as a result of man's judgment ("in the flesh") but that he was made alive again as a result of God's judgment ("in the Spirit"). Verse 19 explains that when Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, he passed through spiritual places where certain sinful spirit-beings were being detained while they awaited their own judgment (Jude 6). As Jesus passed by them, Peter pictures him victoriously announcing his triumph over all the forces of evil (Col. 2:15).
Verse 20 says that these "spirits in prison" had once exercised evil influence over humans living on earth, specifically "in the days of Noah" (2 Pet. 2:4-5; Gen. 6:4-5). Noah had much in common with the believers to whom Peter writes. Noah also knew what it meant to live as a man of faith surrounded by a scornful, unbelieving, wicked world (Gen. 6:9; Heb. 11:7; Ezek. 14:14,20).
gracEmail
Edward Fudge
SPIRITS IN PRISON (2)
A brother writes: "First Peter 3:18-22 stumps me. I just can't understand that preaching to the spirits in prison. Do you have any clue to what Peter is referring?"
* * *
Peter's first readers are discouraged because their society and companions and sometimes their families have rejected them for their faith in Jesus. The apostle encourages them to rely on God's judgment of them instead of the world's judgment. He shows us the difference in those judgments in the first two verses of the epistle. Peter addresses these believers as "scattered aliens" -- which tells us the world's view of them. But he also calls them "chosen" and "elect" -- which was God's view.
In this letter, Peter points out that Jesus also had been rejected by man, but that he was nevertheless honored by God (2:6-8). This has always been the way with those who trusted in God. Even ancient Noah knew that situation. But God reversed man's judgment of Noah, and he showed that by bringing him through the waters of the Flood.
God also reversed man's judgment of Jesus, and he showed it by bringing Jesus through death to resurrection. Now Peter promises his readers, who are persecuted for their faithful commitment to Jesus, that God will also reverse man's judgment against them. God will show that by giving them glory when Jesus comes again (1:6-7; 4:12-13; 5:9-10).
gracEmail
Edward Fudge
SPIRITS IN PRISON (3)
A brother writes: "First Peter 3:18-22 stumps me. I just can't understand that preaching to the spirits in prison. Do you have any clue to what Peter is referring?"
* * *
Now Peter makes another connection between Noah and Peter's first readers. There was a time when Noah was surrounded by mocking unbelievers, but then he was "saved by water" from that wicked world. The old world of unbelievers did not go through the Flood with Noah. They stayed on the other side of those waters.
In this same way, Peter writes in verse 21, Christian believers are "saved" from the unbelieving world by passing through the waters of baptism (see his same language in Acts 2:40). It no longer matters that the unbelieving world mocks and scoffs at the believer. The believer need not rely on the judgment rendered by the unbelieving world. In baptism, he or she has cried out to God for a clean conscience, based on what Jesus Christ did for sinners long ago. The baptized believer may live in light of God's judgment -- a verdict of divine acquital and approval, demonstrated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
But this mighty resurrection of Jesus Christ was not the end, says verse 22, for God then exalted him to the heavenly position of honor, and made him Lord over all ranks of spirit-beings, including those which previously had opposed him. The persecuted believer is to remember all this and take courage. "Where is my hope of deliverance?" the believer asks. Remembering his or her baptism brings the answer to mind. Our hope is in Jesus Christ our Lord -- Jesus who is victor over all his enemies, death and the grave! Our God, who delivered Noah and raised up Jesus, will again have the final word.
For more on the dark side, click here.