Introduction
In the article “Did Jesus Preach to the Spirits in Prison? – 1 Peter 3“, I will explore one of the most debated verses in the Bible. The passage in 1 Peter 3:18-20 states that Christ preached to “the spirits in prison“, leading to various interpretations and questions. Who are these spirits, and what exactly happened at that moment? Did this preaching take place during the period between Jesus’ death and resurrection, or is there another explanation?
Throughout this article, I will examine different perspectives on this subject and compare them with what the Scriptures teach, seeking to gain a clearer understanding of this event.
Biblical Passage
1 Peter 3:18-20 – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: in whom also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing; in which few (that is, eight) souls were saved through water“
The apostle Peter explains that Christ, being righteous, died in place of the unrighteous to bring us to God. He was put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit. Furthermore, the passage states that Christ “went and preached to the spirits in prison“, identifying these spirits as those who were “disobedient… in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared“.
Who are these “spirits in prison” to whom Christ preached? When did this happen?
Groups of People and Their Interpretations
Based on the passage above, three groups seek to justify their doctrines:
- Spiritists: Use this passage to support the existence of disembodied spirits, reincarnation, and related beliefs.
- Most evangelicals: Interpret it as evidence for the immortality of the soul.
- Catholics: Use it to justify the existence of purgatory.
All three groups understand this passage as referring to the period between Christ’s crucifixion and His resurrection. The common interpretation is that Christ died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday and that during this time, He preached to the “spirits in prison” – understood as the antediluvians, the people who lived in Noah’s time before the flood (Genesis 6). These individuals would have lived on earth approximately 2,300 years before Jesus’ death.
But are these interpretations correct? Did this event truly take place during Jesus’ death?
What to Consider from These Interpretations?
First, what can we assume about these interpretations? Here are some points to consider:
- There is life after death, and the spirit is a living entity of a person who has already died.
- When Jesus died, His spirit went to preach to the spirits of people who were already dead.
- The spirits in prison were unrighteous individuals who had been rebellious in Noah’s time.
- If Jesus was preaching to these spirits of people who had already died, it would imply that they were being given a second chance to repent.
Are these assumptions valid? Let’s analyze them in light of the Scriptures.
What Does the Bible Teach?
Considering this information, let us compare it with other biblical passages to determine which interpretation aligns best with Scripture. Let’s begin with Hebrews 9:27:
Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment“
The verse above explains that humans die only once and are then destined for judgment. In other words, everything we do in this life determines our future. There is no second chance for redemption, nor is there another life “available” to live again. Judgment will be based on the actions and decisions we make while we are alive-after that, there will be no further opportunity.
Based on this, we can discard the Spiritist interpretation, which teaches the doctrine of reincarnation. The same applies to the Catholic interpretation, which seeks to justify belief in purgatory-a place where Jesus supposedly went after His death to give a second chance to the “spirits in prison“.
Thus, we are left with the evangelical interpretation, which uses this passage to support the belief in the immortality of the soul, affirming that there is consciousness after death.
Next, let’s examine Ecclesiastes 9:10:
Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom“
Solomon advises us to make the most of our time while we have strength because in the grave, where we go after death, there is no work, no plans, no knowledge, and no wisdom. Similarly, the psalmist declares that when a person dies, “in that very day their thoughts perish“ (Psalms 146:4).
Given these biblical truths, did Jesus really preach to the spirits in prison? Let’s continue analyzing the Scriptures to find the answer.
The Afterlife Destination is No Other Place!
It is clear that man’s destiny at the moment he dies is the grave! This is the place we go to, as the wise Solomon announced. After our death, there is no work, projects, knowledge or wisdom. Everything ends! This makes it quite clear that there is no possibility of “spirit” of man being a living entity, for if that were the case, this living entity called “spirit” would be devoid of all these attributes (works, projects, knowledge and wisdom)! As a “disembodied spirit“. Would you listen to Jesus’ preaching if he is devoid of wisdom and knowledge? How would you make any decision about what is right or wrong in his preaching if you no longer have knowledge and your thoughts perished on the day of your death here on earth?
Understand that even the idea of these entities receiving a sermon from Christ is contrary to the teaching of Hebrews 9:27, which states that after death, judgment is reserved. Evangelicals reject the Catholic doctrine of purgatory, but accept the interpretation that Christ went to preach to the antediluvian dead. Preaching has only one purpose, which is the repentance and conversion of the sinner, but if they are already dead and reserved for judgment, why would Christ preach to them if there is no longer any chance of repentance?! Wouldn’t this be the same doctrine of purgatory, only adapted to evangelical thought?! Of course it is!
Only the Living One will praise Him!
The prophet Isaiah says the following:
Isaiah 38:18-19 – “For the grave shall not praise thee, neither shall death glorify thee; neither shall they that go down to the pit hope in thy truth. The living, even the living, shall praise thee, as I do this day; the father shall make known thy truth to the children“
If those who have already died do not praise God, nor can they hope in His truth, then did Jesus really preach to the spirits in prison?
Notice that Isaiah states that those who die do not “hope in Your truth“ and that only “the living… shall praise You“ The righteous who have died do not praise the Lord, nor do the unrighteous who have perished “hope in His truth“.
The doctrine of purgatory teaches that some of the dead can be purified and saved after death, implying that they could still “hope” in the Lord. However, this idea contradicts the prophet’s words. As we read above, the dead do not praise God or wait for His truth.
Once again, it becomes clear that purgatory and the belief in the spirit as a conscious, living entity after death are inconsistent with Scripture and contradict biblical teachings.
Second Chance for the Antediluvians?
Another point to consider is the injustice that arises when it is taught that Jesus granted a second chance to the antediluvian people. By interpreting the text this way, they apply bias to Jesus-granting a second opportunity for salvation to the sinners of Noah’s time. But what about all the other sinners from other eras? Were they not all sinners? Why would only some receive a second chance? This bias leads to an accusation of injustice against Jesus Christ in relation to all other human beings. For this reason alone, it no longer makes sense to say that Jesus preached to the spirits in prison.
The idea of a living spiritual entity that leaves a person’s body at death contradicts the proper biblical understanding of the state of the dead. Many biblical passages are used to support this interpretation, but it becomes contradictory when considered alongside other passages. Interestingly, the same doctrine contradicts itself in the interpretations of other passages used to defend it. For example, those who defend the immortality of the soul also refer to Luke 23:43, which reports the words of Jesus to the repentant thief crucified beside Him. The text says:
Luke 23:43 – “And Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’“
Contradictions of this Interpretation
Consider that the same people who claim that Jesus died and went to preach to the “spirits in prison” contradict themselves by using Luke 23:43 to argue that the thief on Jesus’ right died and went to Paradise with Him shortly after his death. After all, on the day of His death, did Jesus go to preach to the “spirits in prison“, or did He go to “Paradise” with the crucified thief? This inconsistency highlights the flaw in defending a non-biblical doctrine!
So far, we have seen contradictions in the interpretations presented by Spiritists, Evangelicals, and Catholics. If these three interpretations are incorrect, how should we understand this text?
First, we must understand the work of our Lord Jesus. As the prophet said:
Luke 4:18-21 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and gave it back to the minister, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him. Then he began to say unto them, Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing“
The ministry of Christ was:
- evangelize the poor
- heal the brokenhearted
- preach freedom to the captives
- restore sight to the blind
- set the oppressed free
- to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord
The Ministry of Jesus is Also for Those Who Believe!
All of this was done through the Spirit of the Lord that was upon Jesus! Through the working of God’s Spirit, Jesus performed all of His works. This ministry was not exclusive to Jesus. The same ministry has been given to God’s people throughout the ages, both during the reign of Israel and in the Christian era. God’s people, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, are also called to perform these works. Thus says the Lord to His people:
Isaiah 42:6-7 – “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will hold your hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant of the people and a light to the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness from the prison house“
God’s people are called to be “a light to the Gentiles” and to perform works similar to those that Jesus performed here on earth. However, we do not perform these works by our own strength, but through the Spirit of the Lord who works in us. The Spirit of the Lord has been working in His people since ancient times. Through Him, God spoke through the mouths of the prophets, inspiring the messages they were to proclaim. This is how the apostle Peter explained it in the following words:
1 Peter 1:10-11 – “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, testifying beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow“
The Spirit of Christ That Was In Them
He was “the Spirit of Christ, who was” in the prophets, making them prophesy about grace throughout the ages! This was no different in Noah’s time. When Noah received God’s message about the flood that would come upon the earth, he preached this message to his contemporaries and spent decades building an ark for that day. Despite the passing of time and Noah’s countless sermons, only his family accepted the message and were saved from that event. The rest mocked Noah and the message he preached. They did not repent of their sins and were consumed by the flood. Jesus preached to these people through His Spirit, using His servant Noah as a human instrument!
2 Peter 2:5 – “And spared not the old world, but kept Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly“
Noah was “the preacher of righteousness“, and Jesus preached through him by anointing him with His Spirit! Jesus did not preach to the antediluvians after His death on the cross; He did so while they were alive in their time. This is how we should understand Peter’s words when he says that Christ “went and preached to the spirits in prison“. Jesus preached to the spirits in prison through His servants!
The term “spirit” refers to the people themselves. They were in prison because of sin! Sin is the prison of Satan! Thus declares the wise Solomon concerning the iniquities and sins of the wicked:
Proverbs 5:22 – “The wicked man’s iniquities will capture him, and he will be held with the cords of his sin“
Conclusion – Did Jesus Preach to the Spirits in Prison?
To conclude, I would like to leave you with a quote from the famous reformer John Wesley, one of the key figures of the Protestant Reformation, who is highly regarded by many evangelicals:
“By what Spirit did He preach? – Through the ministry of Noah, to the spirits in prison, that is, the wicked men before the flood. … When the long-suffering of God waited. For one hundred and twenty years, all the time that the ark was being prepared; when Noah was warning them to flee from the wrath to come.” – Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament, p. 615.
May God bless us!
