Who are the "spirits" in 1 Peter 3:19?

[Paleouss]

Greetings to all my brothers. Grace and hope to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am looking for positions and data points regarding 1 Peter 3:19 and in particular who are the "spirits in prison" and what is Christ doing there.

As I understand it there might be four major views, (A) the "spirits" are flood generation humans through which Noah preached the coming Savior (1Pet 2:5), (B) the "spirits" are simply all the pre-flood humans in the time of Noah in which Christ is preaching after descending into Hades, (C) the "spirits" are all the human spirits that are trapped in Sheol prior to Christ's victory over sin, death and Hades, (D) the "spirits" are those fallen angels imprisoned in chains (2Pet 2:4) to which Christ is proclaiming victory.

If you have another belief, I'd like to hear it.

Peace to you brothers

 

[37818]

1 Peter 4,:6, For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

 

[Paleouss]

1 Peter 4,:6, For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Geetings brother. Peace to you and yours.

At first blush I also thought 1 Peter 4:6 might related to 1 Peter 3:19. But after considering context of 1 Peter 4:1-5, I'm not so sure.

Context:

1Pet 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,

Peter appears to be talking about suffering and arming yourselves.

2 that he no longer should live the rest of [his] time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we [have spent] enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles--when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.

Peter talks about how we, as Christians, once lived.

4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with [them] in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of [you]. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

Peter talks about what those who are not of the faith think of us (those who still walk in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries).

6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

Then Peter says, "for this reason...". This "for this reason" seems to be like a "therefore", which means 'based on what I just said"... "the gospel was preached also to those who are dead,".

If in fact the "for this reason" is to be understood this way, then what Peter is referring to should be understood under the context of what was just said previously in 1 Peter 4:1-5. What was just said would appear to engender the concept of "the dead" being those living individuals who have not life within them, i.e., the living unsaved (or those of 1Pet 4:3-4). This would be like Romans 8:6-7 possibly.

(Rom 8:6 NKJV) 6 For to be carnally minded [is] death, but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.

Any thoughts about that?

Peace to you brother.

 

[JesusFan]

Greetings to all my brothers. Grace and hope to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I am looking for positions and data points regarding 1 Peter 3:19 and in particular who are the "spirits in prison" and what is Christ doing there.

As I understand it there might be four major views, (A) the "spirits" are flood generation humans through which Noah preached the coming Savior (1Pet 2:5), (B) the "spirits" are simply all the pre-flood humans in the time of Noah in which Christ is preaching after descending into Hades, (C) the "spirits" are all the human spirits that are trapped in Sheol prior to Christ's victory over sin, death and Hades, (D) the "spirits" are those fallen angels imprisoned in chains (2Pet 2:4) to which Christ is proclaiming victory.

If you have another belief, I'd like to hear it.

Peace to you brothers

Those who died in the flood

 

[Paleouss]

Those who died in the flood

Greetings JesusFan. Great to correspond with you again. Grace and hope to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who exactly are "those" that died in the flood? Do you have any verses for support?

Peace to you

 

[Deacon]

QUESTION—Who are the spirits he is referring to?

1. They are the spirits of the people of Noah’s generation [Alf, ICC, TG, TNTC; NJB, TEV].

2. They are supernatural beings.

2.1 They are fallen angels [NTC].

2.2 They are the fallen angels of Genesis 6:1–4 who married human women and had offspring by them [BNTC, EGT, IVP, NCBC, NIBC, NIC, Sel].

2.3 They are evil spirit beings who are the spiritual offspring of the fallen angels of Genesis 6:1–4 who married human women and had offspring by them [WBC].

Abernathy, David. 2008. An Exegetical Summary of 1 Peter. 2nd ed. Dallas, TX: SIL International.

 

[th1bill]

They are the Old Testament Saints we find marching through the Holy City in Matt 27:51---

 

[Paleouss]

Greetings Deacon. Thank you for the references and grace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. They are the spirits of the people of Noah’s generation [Alf, ICC, TG, TNTC; NJB, TEV].

References are nice, thank you.

2. They are supernatural beings.

2.1 They are fallen angels [NTC].

Possibly. The best augment I know of for this is that the term "spirit" is not used to refer to humans (without a qualifier).

2.3 They are evil spirit beings who are the spiritual offspring of the fallen angels of Genesis 6:1–4 who married human women and had offspring by them [WBC].

Not a possibility, even if you believe that angels procreated with human women. Long argument short, according to the Book of Enoch the Nephilim evil spirts are said to not go where human spirits go but to roam the earth, i.e., they remain on earth after death to be evil spirits on earth.

Therefore, they couldn't be the "spirits in prison" because they are not in Hades or Sheol but on earth. So those that think this one haven't reasoned it through, it would seem.

Peace to you brother

 

[Paleouss]

They are the Old Testament Saints we find marching through the Holy City in Matt 27:51---

Greetings again Bill. Hope you are doing well.

Good one!

Peace to you

 

[Jerome]

John Calvin preferred to see it as directed to godly souls looking with hope from a watchtower!
But if a prison, only that "the Law" had been "a kind of prison" to the same:

"Common has been the opinion that Christ’s descent into hell is here referred to; but the words mean no such thing"

"...I therefore have no doubt but Peter speaks generally, that the manifestation of Christ’s grace was made to godly spirits...But it may be inquired, Why he puts in prison the souls of the godly after having quitted their bodies? It seems to me that φυλακὴ rather means a watchtower in which watchmen stand for the purpose of watching, or the very act of watching....that godly souls were watching in hope of the salvation promised them, as though they saw it afar off."

"But if the word prison be preferred, it would not be unsuitable; for, as while they lived, the Law, according to Paul, (Galatians 3:23,) was a sort of prison in which they were kept; so after death they must have felt the same desire for Christ; for the spirit of liberty had not as yet been fully given. Hence this anxiety of expectation was to them a kind of prison."