Keraia
1 Peter 3

1 Peter 3:19

Suffering for Righteousness · 1 Peter 3:14–22
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Translations

Modern
…in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
Traditional
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Literal
…in whom also, having gone, He preached to the spirits in prison
Latin
In quo et his, qui in carcere erant, spiritibus veniens prædicavit:

Original

Greek
English
…in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison

Notes

1 Peter 3:19–20

This difficult passage has been widely interpreted in three ways:

  1. One interpretation says that these were the spirits of people who had died, and that Christ preached the good news to them after his resurrection. However, the New Testament does not support the idea that people can hear the good news or respond to it after death. Because of this, it is not likely that spirits in this passage refer to the spirits of dead people.

  2. A second interpretation understands 3:19–20 as describing Christ preaching through Noah to the people who lived in Noah’s time. These people are now spirits in prison. This interpretation would explain the reference to people in the days of Noah in 3:20. However, it does not fit well with the main discussion about Christ’s death and resurrection in 3:18.

  3. In the third interpretation, the spirits in prison are evil spiritual beings. Jewish tradition, based on Genesis 6:1–4, taught that many angels rebelled during the time of Noah (see also Jude 1:6; 1 Enoch 6–10). In this view, Peter is saying that Christ announced his victory over these evil spiritual powers after his resurrection (compare 1 Peter 3:22).

1 Peter 3:18–22

As in 2:21–25, Peter again points to Christ as an example for believers who suffer. Christ was righteous, yet he suffered (3:13–17). His unique work for us reminds suffering Christians that their hope and confidence rest on a secure foundation.

Theme notes and profiles

Simon Peter Salvation in Isaiah

Glossary

Acts of Pilate Baptism Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bottomless Pit Death Descent into Hell Gospel Intermediate State Music Peter, First Letter of Place of the Dead Spirits in Prison

Topics

Antediluvians: Noah Preaches To Hell: The Place of Disembodied Spirits: Which Christ Visited Sin: Love of The Deluge: The Wicked Warned of