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 mentions that Christ preached to “the spirits in prison“, which generates several interpretations and questions. Who are these spirits and what exactly happened at that moment? Did this preaching occur during the period between the death and resurrection of Jesus, or is there another explanation? Throughout the text, I will analyze different perspectives on this subject and compare them with what the Scriptures teach, seeking to better understand the meaning 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 text goes on to say that Christ was and “preached to the spirits in prison“, and what about “spirits” they were “rebels … in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared“. Who are these “spirits in prison” that Christ went and preached to them? When did this happen?
Groups of People and Their Interpretations
Based on the passage above, there are 3 groups of people who seek to justify their doctrines. They are:
- Spiritist group: They justify the doctrine of the existence of disembodied spirits, incarnation, etc.
- Most evangelicals: Justify the immortality of the soul.
- Catholics: Justify the existence of purgatory.
All three of these groups understand that this passage applies to the period of time between Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection. The majority interpretation of the Bible states that Christ died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday, and that he spent the time after his death preaching to such people “spirits in prison” of the antediluvians, that is, of the people who lived at the time of Noah, before the flood happened on the earth (Genesis 6). Such people would have lived here on earth, about 2300 years before the death of Jesus. But is it true that such interpretations are correct, and that this really happened during the “death” of Jesus?
What to Consider from These Interpretations?
First, what can we assume about these interpretations ? Here are some things to consider:
- There is life after the moment of death. The spirit is a living entity of the person who has already died.
- When he died, the spirit of Jesus went to preach to other spirits of people who were already dead.
- The spirits in prison were of unrighteous people and were rebellious in Noah’s time.
- If Jesus was preaching to such spirits of people who had already died, it was because they were being given a second chance to repent.
What Does the Bible Teach?
Considering this information, let us compare it with other biblical passages and see which interpretation is most in line with the Bible. Let us begin with Hebrews 9:27:
Hebrews 9:27 – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment“
In the text above, it is explained that men die only once, and after that they are destined for judgment. In other words, everything we do in this life will decide our future. There is no other opportunity for remission. There is no other life.”available“to live again. Judgment will be made based on the actions and decisions we make while we are alive. After that, there will be no other chance!
Based on this, we are able to discard the spiritist interpretation, which teaches the doctrine of “reincarnation“. The same is true of the Catholic interpretation that seeks to justify the belief in purgatory, a place where Jesus supposedly went after his death to give a second chance to those who are dead “spirits in prison“. Thus, we are left with the second interpretation of the majority of evangelicals, who use this passage to justify the belief in the immortality of the soul, that is, that there is life after death.
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 do all we can while we have the strength, for “in the grave“where do we go after death, “there is no work“, “no project“, “nor knowledge” and “nor any wisdom“! The psalmist, speaking about the moment of death, says that “in that very day their thoughts perish” (Psalms 146:4). So did Jesus preach to the spirits in prison?
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 there is no praise from those who have already died, nor can those who have already descended into the grave expect the truth, then did Jesus Preach to the Spirits in Prison?
Notice that the prophet Isaiah said that those who die do not “they will hope in your truth“, and that only “the living, he will praise you“. The holy dead do not praise the Lord, nor do the unrighteous who have already died.”they will hope in your truth“. Purgatory teaches that some dead can be purified and saved after death. For this doctrine, they could “wait actually” of the Lord. But this idea is contrary to what the prophet taught, as we read above. Once again, it is evident that purgatory or the spirit as a living entity after the death of man, are not consistent with the Scriptures and are in disharmony with them.
Second Chance for the Antediluvians?
Another point to consider is the injustice that they bring to the person of Jesus when they teach that he granted a second chance to these antediluvian people. By interpreting the text in this way, they apply bias to Jesus, that is, he granted a second opportunity for salvation to these sinners from Noah’s time, but what about the other sinners from all other eras? Weren’t they all sinners, so why would only some receive a second chance? See that this bias allows an accusation of injustice to the person of Jesus Christ before 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 is completely contrary to the correct interpretation of the state of the dead that the Scriptures teach. Many biblical passages are used to support this interpretation, but it becomes contradictory in light of other passages. Interestingly, the same doctrine contradicts itself with interpretations of other passages used to defend the same doctrine. For example, those who defend the immortality of the soul also use the text of Luke 23:43, which reports the words of Jesus to the repentant thief crucified on his right. The text says the following:
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 the text of Luke 23:43 to argue that the thief on Jesus’ right died and went to Paradise with Jesus shortly after his death. After all, on the day of his death, Jesus went to preach to the “spirits in prison” or went to “paradise” with the crucified thief?! See the inconsistency in defending a non-biblical doctrine!
So far, we have seen an inconsistency in the three interpretations presented by the 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. 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 this he did for the “Spirit of the Lord” that was upon Him! Through the working of the Spirit of God, Jesus performed all these works! This ministry was not exclusive to Jesus. The same ministry was given to God’s people throughout the ages, whether during the reign of Israel or in the Christian era. God’s people, imbued with the Spirit of the Lord, should also perform such 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 “light of the gentiles” and to perform works similar to those performed by Jesus here on earth. We do not perform these works by ourselves, but through the Spirit of the Lord who works in us. The Spirit of the Lord has worked and has worked in His people since ancient times. Through Him, He spoke through the mouths of the prophets, giving them inspiration in the messages they were to proclaim. This is how the apostle Peter explained it in the following words:
1 Peter 1:10,11 – “Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto 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 who made them prophesy of grace throughout the ages! And this was no different in Noah’s time. Upon receiving God’s message about the flood that would come upon the earth, Noah preached this message to his contemporaries, and for decades he built an ark for that day. Despite the passing of time and Noah’s countless sermons, only his family accepted the message preached 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, the preacher of righteousness, by bringing the flood upon the world of the ungodly“
Noah was “the auctioneer of justice” and Jesus preached through him by anointing him with his Spirit! Jesus did not preach to the antediluvians after his death on the cross, but did so while such people were alive in their times! This is how we must 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 – “As for the wicked, his 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 text by the famous reformer John Wesley, one of the main reformers of Protestantism, 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!
