1 Pe 3:17-22
17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered [1] 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 [2] he went and proclaimed [3] to the spirits in prison, 20 because [4] 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.
Footnotes
[1] 3:18 Some manuscripts died
[2] 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
[3] 3:19 Or preached
[4] 3:20 Or when
[1] 3:18 Some manuscripts died
[2] 3:19 Or the Spirit, in whom
[3] 3:19 Or preached
[4] 3:20 Or when
- How does your suffering for doing right compare to that of Christ?
- Why did Christ die for sins?
- To whom did He bring you?
- What happened to his flesh? - How does knowing (but not understanding fully) that Christ preached to the spirits in prison affect you?
- How does the salvation of Noah encourage you today?
- How does baptism now save you?
- Through what does baptism save?
- What appeal is made to God in baptism?
- Why would people resist such a simple, yet profound response to Christ's death?
- Where is Christ now and how did His suffering get him there?
- Who is subject to Christ?
- How does this encourage you?
2 comments:
Peter wrote of Paul in 2 Peter 3:16that Paul wrote some things difficult to understand. Peter himself wrote at least one thing difficult to understand in 1 Peter 3:19, "... proclaimed (preached) to the spirits in prison, ...." I for one do not know what he is talking about and I have never heard anyone offer a suitable explanation. Would anyone care to make an attempt?
The best guess that I have heard is that Jesus preached that he was the Messiah to those who went before him. That does not indicate how Elijah and Moses would chat with him on the mountain if they did not already know. Also Lazarus the beggar was in Abraham's bosom. In 1 Peter 1:10-12, Peter indicates that the prophets did not know who/what they were in fact prophesying about.
The question I struggle with is what the prisonis. I have heard it guessed that it is the prison of death, the place where souls wait for resurrection. Why the use of the word prison if it is not a punishment? Back to Lazarus the beggar, the rich man is in some form of torment. Did Jesus preach to him?
Peter knew what he meant. Probably the audience Peter wrote to knew as well. Unfortunately Peter did not provide nice footnotes to explain.
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