"Proclaimed to the Spirits"

“For Christ also suffered 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, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because 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.” (1 Peter 3:18-20 ESV)

1 Peter 3:18-20, a text of profound complexity and frequent contention, delves into the Triduum Mortis, the three days of Christ's death. Peter asserts that Jesus, having been resurrected, descended to Sheol and proclaimed His glory to the 'Spirits in Prison.' Sheol, a Hebrew term, refers to the abode of the dead.

This text, a subject of enduring debate within theological circles, presents a clash of beliefs. Let's begin by examining a specific segment of the Apostle’s Creed: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.” If John Calvin's interpretation holds true, the Apostle’s Creed serves as 'a summary of our faith, in complete detail.'[1]

Theologian Andrew Bandstra wrote that the use of the Greek verb ἐκήρυξεν (ekēryxen) in this text, the word proclaimed indicates that Christ was proclaiming His triumph over death and sin to the generation of Noah, who had died in the flood. [2] This same verb is used in the Greek in Jesus' ministry when He proclaimed the Gospel. This belief in preaching to the souls from Noah’s time was noted by theologians D.N. Campbell and Fika van Rensburg, who used early church writings to conclude this. I believe if this did happen, it was to proclaim His glory. We all know there is no conversion after death, so God said, essentially, “I told you so”.

Calvin, to explain why saved spirits would be έν φυλακή (in prison), downgraded prison to a watchtower where godly spirits awaited their promised salvation. Conversely, Campbell and van Rensburg note there is an opposite interpretation where Christ preaches condemnation to Noah’s contemporaries. This is quite possible as well. When we look at Matthew 27:51-53, Matthew wrote, “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. This verse seems to indicate what we know: Christ opened the door to heaven for all at the resurrection. Those resting in peace were waiting for the resurrection of the dead, and those who are alive eternally have placed their faith in Christ.

Many still hold to the “resting in peace” of the dead. I believe this passage provides a basis for the argument that, despite the Catholic belief in purgatory (a church money maker with indulgences) and the “rest in peace” mentality, when we die, we are brought before the Lord, no stops, no waiting; we stand judgment.

Theologian Keith Johnson used Calvin, who proposed, “Christ could not have descended into hell to proclaim salvation to the righteous dead because there are no righteous dead.” [3] Calvin also states that 1 Peter 3:19 should not be taken literally; rather, it implies that “Christ’s death penetrated to the dead.”

While the specifics of the Triduum Mortis remain a mystery, they are ultimately inconsequential. What truly matters is that Christ, in His death, atoned for our sins. His resurrection, a triumphant victory over death, provides unwavering assurance for those who place their faith in Him. Whether Christ descended to hell, preached, or proclaimed, His resurrection and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan stand as the unshakable foundation of the modern church.   

Grace and Peace!

[1] John Calvin, as cited by Keith L. Johnson,“ He Descended into Hell” Institute for Faith and Learning Easter Article, Baylor University, Easter 2014, 29.

[2] Strong’s Greek Concordance 2784.

[3] Keith L. Johnson,“ He Descended into Hell” Institute for Faith and Learning Easter Article, Baylor University, Easter 2014, 30.