3:19,20
There are one or two occasions when you wish a verse or two wasn’t in the Bible. Not because it convicts you of sin, in that case it is good that they are there, and sooner we repent the better, but because it seems to add nothing to understanding except confusion. At the same time they allow people to make idle speculations about nothing at all. Verses 19 and 20 fall into that category. However, these verses must be there for a good reason, so let’s see if we can go someway to discovering what that reason is.
Let’s look first the spirits in prison. The Greek term can refer to human spirits or angels. One interpretation is that the “spirits” are the human spirits of those who were not saved in Noah’s day, and Jesus preached to them through Noah. Now in its favour this has the advantage that it draws an analogy between today and the time of Noah. The gospel is preached, but some reject it, or pay no attention. God is waiting patiently, but judgement will eventually come. So for Peter’s hearers there is explanation of why God is allowing them to go through difficult times. Now this interpretation is consistent with the rest of Scripture, indeed with other things that Peter himself says, but it doesn’t really explain the “imprisoned spirits” bit, unless we take people who reject the gospel as having imprisoned spirits.
Another alternative is that the spirits are spirits of fallen angels, and Christ’s preaching to them is a proclamation of His victory to them. This is all very good, but seems to have limited practical relevance, apart from the victory over the demons.
A third interpretation is that Christ is offering a second chance to those who have died without coming to faith. This has very little to commend it, and goes against general Biblical teaching.
So the first is the best interpretation, in my view, but one still feels that one is missing something.
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