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1 Peter 3:18–20
“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 he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison” (vv. 18–19).
In giving direction to believers who suffer maltreatment because of their faith in Christ, Peter has set forth Jesus as the paradigm to follow (1 Peter 2:21–25). This makes good sense. After all, Jesus sets Himself forth as an example to imitate (John 13:15). Moreover, no one has endured more unjust suffering for the truth than our Lord, since He never sinned and spoke only the truth. Thus, there is no better model than Jesus for showing us how to faithfully suffer mistreatment for doing what is right.
Peter gives Jesus as an example of what happens to those who suffer for the sake of the truth in 1 Peter 3:18–22 to remind us that suffering was not the last word for our Savior. Instead, it led to resurrection, vindication, and exaltation. The Apostle has told us that we cannot be ultimately harmed and will be finally vindicated if we suffer for the sake of the truth (vv. 13, 16), and Jesus is the proof of his teaching. Believers who follow the example of Christ in their suffering can expect an exaltation similar to the one He enjoys.
Jesus’ suffering and then exaltation, we read in today’s passage, meant death in the flesh and being made alive in the spirit (v. 18). Christ died in the body, was resurrected by the Holy Spirit, and now lives in the Spirit. Jesus retains His resurrected physical body and dwells in the realm of the Spirit until the new creation that He ushered in through His death and resurrection is consummated at His return.
The Apostle then explains that Jesus went to proclaim “to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah” (vv. 19–20). This is a difficult text that raises many questions. Are the spirits that Peter mentions human souls, angels, or demons? Did this happen in the days of Noah or after Christ’s resurrection? Were the spirits in prison in Noah’s day or later? It seems best to affirm an interpretation that goes back at least to the days of Augustine in the fourth century. This view says that Peter is referring to Christ’s preaching by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of Noah to those in his generation who mocked him for building the ark and that these people—“spirits”—who rejected Noah are now “in prison,” or suffering judgment. The point is that Christians can be confident that those who mistreat believers impenitently will not escape condemnation. Followers of Christ, on the other hand, will finally be saved just as Noah was.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Noah was mocked but finally vindicated. Jesus was put to death but raised in the power of the Holy Spirit. These examples of suffering and vindication are just a few such accounts that we find in Scripture. If we are tempted to despair while we are suffering mistreatment for following Jesus, let us remember that God has a proven track record of vindicating those who suffer for righteousness’ sake.
For further study
- Genesis 7
- 2 Timothy 4:18
- Hebrews 11:7
- 2 Peter 2:4–10a
The bible in a year
- 1 Chronicles 6–7
- John 8:39–59