Head Scratcher

1 Peter 3:18-22

Before I get started I want to preface todays teaching as one of the most avoided and complicated passages in the NT.

I have told you many times that there are certain places in the bible that gives us glimpses of things that leaves more questions then it gives answers.

Today will bring some clarity to some and only cause more confusion for others…..

1 Peter 3:18–22 ESV

18 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, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 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. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

In reference to verse 18 Isaiah speaks of the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 53:3–5 ESV

3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Now to Verse 19 and 20

(ESV) in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 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.

I want to say this there are many scholars that differ on the interpretation of this passage.

There is no Black or White answer.

Instead of avoiding I want to attempt to help us understand what we can of this passage.

Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary Spirits in Prison

The most logical explanation of this passage is that Jesus made a proclamation of His victory over death to the rebellious angels who had been placed in prison. His proclamation was also a form of judgment on them because of their sin and rebellion. This idea also seems to be supported by

2 Peter 2:4 ESV

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Jude 6 ESV

6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day.

This is a reference to Genesis 6

First, the descent demonstrates Christ’s absolute victory over cosmic evil. As believers faced with suffering, Peter sought to encourage them that Jesus had already proclaimed his victory over death, sin, and the Devil to the “spirits in prison,” meaning Satan was a defeated foe whose minions had been told of their defeat by the risen Christ.

In simple terms, Peter’s point is that Christ truly triumphed over all opposition, even the powers and people associated with the world before the flood. The verse is less about giving a full timeline of what Jesus did between death and resurrection, and more about assuring believers that Christ’s victory reaches every realm

You have to understand that the Church Father’s all understood the supernatural realm! Which many believers today get to weirded out by it and avoid it.

Genesis 6:1–6 ESV

1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

The Spirit of God strived with men, by sending Enoch, Noah, and perhaps others, to preach to them; by waiting to be gracious, notwithstanding their rebellions; and by exciting alarm and convictions in their consciences.

1 Peter 3:21–22 ESV

21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Baptism is the proclamation to the spirit world that you have died and descended into the underworld in Christ but are ascending out of that world with Christ. You are saying to that spirit realm that you are risen with Jesus.

It is a further proclamation to those spirits in prison that they are defeated for eternity.

Every baptism is a reminder to every demon spirit that they are defeated.

Baptism: Paul states we are "baptised unto death" meaning that we are not only dead to our former ways, but they are buried. To return to them is as unthinkable for a Christian as for one to dig up a dead corpse!

Baptism operates on multiple theological levels.

The New Testament does not present a single unified baptismal theology.

Paul and other epistles employ multiple metaphors—participation in Christ’s death and resurrection, washing away sin, new birth, enlightenment by Christ, re-clothing in Christ, and renewal by the Spirit—without attempting to harmonize them.

Matthew 28:19, John 3:5, Mark 16:16, Romans 6:1-4, Galatians 3:27, Acts 2:38, 1 Corinthians 12:13

The Lexham Bible Dictionary Baptism in Acts

In Acts, there is no systematic description behind the theology and practice of baptism, but several themes exist, including:

• The priority of faith and repentance prior to baptism

• The forgiveness of sins

• The initiation into Christian fellowship

• The impartation of the Holy Spirit

Focus on baptism as a sign of our connection to Christ’s resurrection and His power over death. Baptism is more than a ritual; it symbolizes a clean conscience and the favor of the risen Christ. Use this opportunity to discuss how our hope is firmly grounded in Christ, who has ascended into heaven and is over all creation. Perhaps remind your audience that, despite their struggles, they are united with Christ in His resurrection, granting them access to His strength and assurance.