1 Peter 3:18-22

Our Example

Christ suffered for doing good.

He died once for sins.

This means our past, present, and future sins are forgiven.

The righteous for the unrighteous.

The purpose of Jesus’ death is to reconcile us to the Father.

Death in the flesh - alive in the Spirit.

A Challenging Passage

Does this verse teach that Jesus went to Hell? Four passages used to support the doctrine that Jesus went to Hell:

Acts 2:27 “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.”

Romans 10:6-7 “But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).”

1 Peter 3:18-20 “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 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 Peter 4:6 “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”

Four Views on verses 19:21:

Jesus went to Hell to either preach the Gospel giving people a second chance or just to proclaim that He had triumphed over them.

Christ preached to fallen angels.

Christ proclaimed release to Old Testament saints.

Christ preached through Noah when he was building the ark.

Baptism saves you?

Was it the boat that saved Noah and his family or his faith?

The Exaltation of Jesus

He is above:

Angels

Authorities

Powers

The Point of this section:

We have multiple examples of suffering:

Jesus

Noah

Just as Jesus was exalted after suffering, so will we.

Just as Noah was justified after suffering, so will we.