JD Abshire Supporter

Looking at the context, 1 Peter 3:20 describes and identifies the spirits in v. 19 as those disobedient in the days of Noah. I believe Jude 6 is also referring to these same spirits. "And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day."

We know that not all spirits are bound so this is concerning a specific group from the days of Noah that were and are bound. These are the angels, spirits which because of their actions prompted God to destroy mankind with the exception of Noah and his family. (Another story, see Genesis 6, especially v. 1-4)

We can only speculate as to what Christ preached but I firmly believe it was a proclamation, a pronouncement of judgment on these fallen angels.

To suggest that Christ had no power to communicate within the spiritual realm outside of his material and physical body proposes that when he died his eternal spirit ceased to function. We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the eternal "I am". He has always been God and existed as spirit prior to his incarnation. Matter of fact "whoever" the spirits or fallen angels were, our blessed Lord and Savior made them!

March 07 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Adekunle Olaitan Supporter Assistant Resident Minister (Curate),Chapel of the Transfig

I agree with JD Abshire and disagree with Bruce Lyon: we must remember that it is the body that sleeps, as taught by the Bible. The spirit and soul do not sleep. The body may lie in the tomb, the soul/spirit are elsewhere--where the person faces or experiences judgement (pending the ultimate judgement) one way or the other. How much more the eternal I Am veiled in flesh. 

The fact is, as His body hung on the cross and lay in the tomb after expiration, He went and proclaimed/preached to the spirits in prison (Hell), whomever they might be (most likely fallen angels who 'kept not their first estate', but went into the daughters of men), pronouncing and advertising the defeat of Lucifer and all his horde! 

Our creed proudly affirms and states "He descended into hell...". He descended before He ascended into heaven. Hallelujah!

February 23 2017 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Bruce Lyon Supporter Elder: Restoration Fellowship Assembly

First let's understand that Jesus did not preach to anyone or any being while he was dead in the tomb for 3 days and 3 nights. Dead people cannot communicate with anyone. (Eccl:9:5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

So he preached to them after his resurrection and before he met with his disciples in the upper room. He preached to them as a resurrected triumphant glorified man.

March 07 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Who are the spirits Jesus Christ went on to proclaim to in 1 Peter 3:19? The verse says, "Christ went and preached to the spirits in prison." I take the spirits to be most probably fallen angels (based on Genesis 6:1-4 and 2 Peter 2:4-5, Jude 6). Genesis 6:1-4 says, 
1 "Genesis 6:1–4
English Standard Version
Increasing Corruption on Earth

Genesis 6:1–4 says, "When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God [Sons of God = Angels (Fallen Angels)?] saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim [or giants] were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown."

The term “sons of God” (בְּנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים) elsewhere in the OT (e.g., Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7) always refers to angels.

And I taught the book of Jude at Waukesha's New Tribes Bible Institute. Since then, the organization's name was changed to Ethnos360 in 2017. Jude 1:6 ssays, 
"And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.” This corresponds with 2 Peter 2:4-5. 

2 Peter 2:4 says,

"God did not spare angels when they sinned. Instead, he sent them to hell. He chained them up in dark prisons. He will keep them there until he judges them.”

→ 2 Peter 2:5
“And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;”

Now I just heard a sermon on 1 Peter 3:19 and Nephillim were mentioned. 
Who were the Nephilim?
In the opening verses of Genesis 6, we read about a strange and dark moment in human history:

“The sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive, and they took them as wives… and their children became mighty men of old—the Nephilim.”

The word Nephilim in Hebrew can mean "fallen ones" or "giants." These weren’t just tall people—they were powerful, violent, corrupted beings who lived in the days leading up to the flood.

Right after their introduction, the Bible says God looked at the earth and saw that wickedness had completely filled it—every thought and intention of the human heart was evil. And it was then that He made the devastating decision to wipe out life with the flood.

In other words, the rise of the Nephilim marked a breaking point—a generation so deeply corrupted by spiritual rebellion that God had to intervene in judgment. But you and don't have to worry about God's judgment of us if we have accepted Jesus as our Savior. He died to take God's judgment for us. But it is up to each one of us individually to either accept or reject His substitutionary death for us (Romans 6:23; John 1:12).

21 hours ago • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report