1 Peter 3:18-22

1 Peter 3:18-22

[18] For  Christ  also  hath once  suffered  for  sins,  the just  for  the unjust,  that  he might bring  to God,  being put to death  in the flesh,  but  quickened  by the Spirit:  [19] By  which  also  he went  and preached  unto the spirits  in  prison;  [20] Which sometime  were disobedient,  when  the longsuffering  of God  in  the days  of Noah,  while the ark  was a preparing,  wherein  few,  eight  souls  were saved  by  water.  [21] The like figure  whereunto  even baptism  also  now  save  (not  the putting away  of the filth  of the flesh,  but  the answer  of a good  conscience  toward  God,)  by  the resurrection  of Jesus  Christ:  [22] Who  is gone  into  heaven,  on  the right hand  of God;  angels  and  authorities  and  powers  being made subject  unto him. 

What does 1 Peter 3:18-22 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Peter now reminded his readers of the consequences of Jesus" response to unjustified persecution. He did so to strengthen their resolve to rededicate themselves to follow God"s will wholeheartedly and confidently. He also wanted to assure them of their ultimate triumph in Christ.
1 Peter 3:18-22 contain some very difficult exegetical problems. Who are the spirits who received a proclamation ( 1 Peter 3:19)? When did Jesus make this proclamation? What was its content? Why did Peter mention Noah? In what sense does baptism save us?
One group of interpreters believes Jesus went to the realm of the dead and preached to Noah"s contemporaries between His crucifixion and His resurrection. [1] Some of these say He extended an offer of salvation to them. Others feel He announced condemnation to the unbelievers. Still others hold that He announced good news to the saved among them.
A second group believes Jesus preached to Noah"s sinful generation while Noah was living on the earth. They see Him doing so through Noah.
A third group holds that Jesus proclaimed His victory on the cross to fallen angels. Some advocates of this view say this took place in hell between His crucifixion and His resurrection. Others believe it happened during His ascension to heaven.
I shall discuss these views in the exposition to follow.
In 1 Peter 2:21-25 Peter mentioned Jesus" behavior during His passion ( 1 Peter 2:21-23), His death on the cross ( 1 Peter 2:24 a), and His present ministry as the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls ( 1 Peter 2:24-25). In 1 Peter 3:18-22 he cited Jesus" resurrection and ascension into glory, the "missing links" in the previous record of Jesus" experiences. Peter proceeded to explain the significance of Jesus" resurrection and exaltation not only for believers but also for the whole universe. Whereas the previous example of Jesus stressed the way He suffered while doing good, this one emphasizes the theme of Jesus" vindication, which is major in1Peter following the quotation of Psalm 34in 1 Peter 3:10-12.