Justice smiles and asks no more

1 Peter 3:18-22

Presented at the Lighthouse on 14 August 2013 by Garrett P. O’Hara.Original content and compilation (c) 2013 Garrett P. O’Hara,

licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.http://cadencelighthouse.org/

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/deed.en_UShttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/deed.en_US

18 ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἅπαξ περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν ἔπαθεν,

δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων,

ἵνα ὑμᾶς προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ

θανατωθεὶς μὲν σαρκί,

ζῳοποιηθεὶς δὲ πνεύματι· 19

ἐν ᾧ καὶ τοῖς ἐν φυλακῇ πνεύμασιν

πορευθεὶς ἐκήρυξεν 20 ἀπειθήσασίν ποτε, ὅτε ἀπεξεδέχετο ἡ τοῦ θεοῦ μακροθυμία ἐν ἡμέραις Νῶε κατασκευαζομένης κιβωτοῦ εἰς ἣν ὀλίγοι, τοῦτ᾿ ἔστιν ὀκτὼ ψυχαί, διεσώθησαν δι᾿ ὕδατος 21 ὃ καὶ ὑμᾶς ἀντίτυπον νῦν σῴζει βάπτισμα, οὐ σαρκὸς ἀπόθεσις ῥύπου ἀλλὰ συνειδήσεως ἀγαθῆς ἐπερώτημα εἰς θεόν, δι᾿ ἀναστάσεως Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ 22 ὅς ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ πορευθεὶς εἰς οὐρανὸν ὑποταγέντων αὐτῷ ἀγγέλων καὶ ἐξουσιῶν καὶ δυνάμεων.

Where are the periods?

18  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, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 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. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as

a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at

the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected

to him.

1 Peter 3:18–22 ESV

18

Because Christ also suffered once for sins,

the just for the unjust,

to bring you to God,

by being put to death in the flesh

but by being made alive in the spirit.

19

In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

20   after they were disobedient long ago when God patiently waited in the days

of Noah as an ark was being constructed. In the ark a few, that is eight souls, were

delivered through water. 21 And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you–not

the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience to God—

through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who went into heaven and is at the

right hand of God with angels and authorities and powers subject to him.

1 Peter 3:18–22 NET

cf. Isaiah 53:11-12

“you” here is plural

Gk expresses bigger contrast here.

Gk is “antitupos” / literally “antitype”

“A type is a divinely purposed anticipation which illustrates its antitype. These two parts of one theme are related to each other by the fact that the same truth or principle is embodied in each.” - Lewis Sperry Chafer

I. Salutation (1:1-2)II. The Believer’s Sure Hope of Salvation (1:3-12)III. Living in the Light of This Hope (1:13-3:12)

A. Be Holy (1:13-16)B. Conduct Yourselves with Fear (1:17-21)C. Love One Another (1:22-2:3)D. A Holy Community Built on the Living Stone (2:4-10)E. Win the Respect of Outsiders by Your Conduct (2:11-3:12)

1. Living as Strangers and Aliens in the World (2:11-12)2. Submission to Authorities (2:13-17)3. Slaves and Masters (2:18-25)4. Wives and Husbands (3:1-7)5. Be of One Mind (3:8-12)

IV. Hope in the Midst of Suffering (3:13-4:19)A. Following Christ’s Example of Suffering (3:13-22)B. Living for the Glory of God (4:1-11)C. The Blessings of Suffering for Doing Good (4:12-19)

V. Final Instructions (5:1-9)A. To Elders: Shepherd the Flock (5:1-4)B. To the Young: Be Submissive (5:5-6)C. To All: Resist the Devil (5:7-9)

VI. Conclusion (5:10-14)A. Doxology (5:10-11)B. Final Greetings (5:12-14)

Source: Outlines module in Accordance Bible Software

Heresy alertA nice Japanese couple comes to your front door with literature. They bring you a bible and ask you to read this passage aloud.

Why, even Christ died once for all time concerning sins, a righteous [person] for unrighteous ones, that he might lead YOU to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive in the spirit. In this [state] also he went his way and preached to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient when the patience of God was waiting in Noah’s days, while the ark was being constructed, in which a few people, that is, eight souls, were carried safely through the water.

The man asks you, “So according to this passage, was Jesus physically resurrected, or was he resurrected in the spirit?”New World

Translation

Versions of verse 18• Greek: ζῳοποιηθεὶς δὲ πνεύματι zō̧opoiētheis de pneumati

• NIV, ESV, NASB: but made alive in the spirit

• NET: but by being made alive in the spirit

• NLT: but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

• KJV: but quickened by the Spirit:

in the spirit1. The word πνεύματι (pneumati) grammatically indicates that the

(Holy) Spirit is the means by which Jesus became alive again. Since this is the case, the English translation by the Spirit is superior to in the spirit. (Reasoning From the Scriptures with the Jehovah’s Witnesses by Ron Rhodes)

2. “The contrast of flesh and spirit is not between two parts of Christ’s person (material versus immaterial) but between two broader modes of existence: the realm of unregenerate earthly life versus eternal heavenly life. The reference may not be to the Holy Spirit directly, but indirectly, since the Spirit permeates and characterizes the spiritual mode of existence.” (NET First Edition Notes, 2005)

Beginning of verse 19ESV: in which...

NASB: in which also...

HCSB: In that state He also...

NLT: So...

NET: In it...

NIV: After being made alive,...

KJV: By which also...

“In which”? In what?1. The antecedent is spirit (πνεύματι / pneumati)

put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison... (ESV)

That would could either mean Holy Spirit or Christ in spiritual state. Remember that the NT autographa were written without upper and lower-case letters.

(Source: NET First Edition Notes, 2005)

“In which”? In what?2. It’s a causal phrase. “Which” in the Greek applies to

the entire concept behind it.

Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.

So he went and preached to the spirits in prison (NLT-SE)

(Source: NET First Edition Notes, 2005)

“In which”? In what?3. It’s temporal (related to time).

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—

(NIV11)(Source: NET First Edition Notes, 2005)

Beginning of verse 19

ESV: in which...

NASB: in which also...

HCSB: In that state He also...

NLT: So...

NET: In it...

NIV: After being made alive,...

KJV: By which also...

Formal

FormalAntecedent is “spirit,” but

not the Holy Spirit

Causal

Dynamic, but not so interpretive

Temporal

Greek “kai” -- and, even, also, namely

Means

Interpretive versus non-interpretive.

Questions to ask...1.

Who are the spirits in prison?– unbelievers who have died?– Old Testament believers who have died?– fallen angels?

2.

What did Christ preach?– second chance for repentance?– completion of redemptive work?– final condemnation?

3.

When did he preach?– in the days of Noah?– between his death and resurrection?– after his resurrection?

Source: Wayne Grudem in Tyndale Commentary, Vol. 17, p. 166

In it he went and preached to the spirits in prison,

(1 Peter 3:19 NET)

True or false?

Queen Elizabeth II was born in 1926.

What Garrett thinks...Who are the spirits in prison?These spirits are now in prison (see NAS95 translation), but they weren’t at the time of being preached to. These are the unbelievers of Noah’s day.

What did Christ preach?Through Noah, Christ preached repentance.

When did he preach?In the days of Noah.

What’s “in the spirit”?Mode or realm of existence. Holy Spirit didn’t have to make Jesus alive again long before His death on the cross.

Augustus H. Strong -- Verb for “preach” is usually used for preaching the Gospel, not victory.

Another possible position

Who are the spirits in prison?Fallen angels who await judgment for leading the Noahic generation into sin.

What did Christ preach?Victory over evil.

When did he preach?Between the crucifixion and resurrection.

What’s “in the spirit”?Spiritual mode/realm of existence or action of Holy Spirit

Apostles’ CreedI believe in God,the Father almighty,Creator of heaven and earth,and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died and was buried;he descended into hell;on the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and life everlasting. Amen.

good conscienceThe full assurance that every sin is

forgiven and that the Christian is an a right relationship with God

So....baptism saves you?

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a

good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,(1 Peter 3:21 NAS95)

And this prefigured baptism, which now saves you–not the washing off of physical dirt but the pledge of a good conscience

to God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, (1 Peter 3:21 NET)

appealA request to God for a good

conscience

pledgeThe response to God proceeding

from a clear conscience

Baptist view of baptism

Primary significanceOutward sign of salvation

Symbolic emphasisIdentification with Christ

SubjectsThose able to believe

Means... ImmersionRomans 6:4; 8:38

Key arguments

1. Baptism always symbolized the faith of the one being baptizedMatthew 3:5-6

2. NT has only believers being baptized.Acts 2:38-41; 18:9-13;

3. Jewish proselyte baptism demanded the faith of the recipient.

Sources: The Theology Program, v. 6, class 6, by Credo House Ministries;Dictionary of Bible Themes by Martin H. Manser and Alister E. McGrath

Reformed view of baptism

Primary significanceInitiation into the covenant community

Symbolic emphasisRemoval of sin

SubjectsInfants and adults

Means... SprinklingEze 36:25; Zec 13:1; Heb 10:22;possibly Mk 7:3

Key arguments

1. Church replaces Israel; baptism replaces circumcision. Col 2:9-12

2. Whole families included in NT baptisms Acts 16:15, 33

3. Rescue of Noah is a precursor to baptism1 Peter 3:20-21

Sources: The Theology Program, v. 6, class 6, by Credo House Ministries;Dictionary of Bible Themes by Martin H. Manser and Alister E. McGrath

So, Peter, what if you’ve trusted in Christ but you

don’t want to get baptized? huh?

Or maybe the flip side...What if someone is baptized and he hasn’t trusted Christ? huh?If you’re Baptist...

You mean babies?

If you’re Reformed or Roman Catholic...

right hand of GodChrist’s authority is that of the King. At God’s right hand, Christ rules every authority. This was a common metaphor in the ancient world.

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

(1 Peter 3:22 NAS95)

OT ReferencesPower - Ps 89:13

Protection - Ps 16:8God’s presence - Ps 16:11

God’s saving power - Ps 60:5Symbol of victory - Ps 18:35

Symbol of defeat of God’s enemies - Ex 15:6Symbol of God’s mighty works - Ps 45:4

Symbol of judgment - La 2:4

NT - Father’s right handChrist exalted to God’s right hand - Heb 1:13

Christ will return at God’s right hand - Mt 26:64Christ rules every authority at God’s right hand - 1 Pe 3:22

Christ takes scroll from God’s right hand - Rev 5:1-7

NT - Christ’s right handPlace of the righteous on judgment day - Mt 25:34

Privileged place granted by the Father - Mt 20:20-23

18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He

might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the

spirit; 19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in

prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in

the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight

persons, were brought safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism

now saves you — not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for

a good conscience — through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the

right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers

had been subjected to Him. (1 Peter 3:18–22 NAS95)

Why does Jesus’ position at the right hand of God matter?

Jesus Christ makes our appeal to God.

Christ suffered to bring you to God.

Likewise, you may suffer to bring others to Christ.

But God will save you, much like He saved Noah and Christ.

Let us sing, though fierce temptationThreatens hard to bear us down!For the Lord, our strong Salvation,Holds in view the conqueror’s crown:He Who washed us with His bloodSoon will bring us home to God.

Let us wonder; grace and justiceJoin and point to mercy’s store;When through grace in Christ our trust is,Justice smiles and asks no more:He Who washed us with His bloodHas secured our way to God.

- John Newton

ApplicationHow might you apply 1 Peter 3:8-9 when discussing controversial, but non-essential issues like these?

How might you connect Christ’s preaching through Noah into your own life?

How can we exercise confidence in our appeal to God for a good conscience when we are suffering?

How might we avoid despair when we have a hard time interpreting Scripture?