Did Jesus Go To Hell Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday? Part 4

As I stated in the first blog in this series, biblical evidence that Christ, post-resurrection, may have gone to Hell to preach, is found in 2 passages principally:

 1 Peter 3:18–19 (ESV) — “8 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.”

And

1 Peter 4:4–6 (ESV) — “4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”

The weight of evidence from 1 Peter 3 seems to indicate that in fact Christ may have went into Hades to preach to imprisoned spirits under damnation; and specifically to those who rejected the message of Noah. In such case both the punishment for sin and the triumphal victory of Christ would be the essence of the message of our risen Lord.

What about 1 Peter 4?  Are Peter’s comments in chapter 4, verse 6, analogous to that? I think that this is easier to interpret.  Again we need to start with the broader context.  As we saw earlier the flow of thought from Peter would be like this:

I. Salutation (1:1-2)

                        II. The Identity of the People of God (1:3–2:10)
                        III. The Responsibilities of the People of God (2:11–4:11)
                                    A. Summary: The Mission of God’s People in the World (2:11-12)
                                    B. Respect: The Key to Living in the World (2:13–3:12)
                                    C. Doing Good: The Promise of Vindication (3:13–4:6)
                                                1. Suffering for Doing Good (3:13-17)
                                                2. The Triumph of Christ (3:18-22)
                                                3. Living for the Promise (4:1-6)
                                   D. Mutual Love: The Key to Christian Community in the End Times (4:7-11)
                        IV. The Responsibilities of a Church and its Elders in the Midst of Trials (4:12–5:11)
                        V. Concluding Remarks (5:12-14)

 So in chapter 4, in the verses under consideration I would argue that Peter is still promising vindication to the saints but here he is causing them to focus on “living for the promise” or living by faith (or living by future grace!).  Peter is speaking to Christians and warning them that that will have to suffer, but there is a promise of vindication coming.  He reminds them that their friends will be surprised that they don’t spend their time in sinful pursuits.  In verse 5 he reminds them that their friends who laugh at them and deride them will also have to stand before God.  Peter tells the Christians what most of have experienced, that their lifestyle proves to be a condemnation on the wicked. Their feelings of condemnation often turn to hatred and abuse.

This judgment is near (4:7); and it will be universal, for it will embrace all the living and all the dead. In it unbelievers will have to give an account of their lives. 

Now we come to verse 6.  "For this is the reason" (eis touto gar) is not retrospective but prospective. The coming judgment not only will bring sinners into account (v. 5) but will also reverse the judgments of men (v. 6).[1]  Peter likely is talking about people who are dead, who heard and responded to the Gospel.  Even though they were persecuted they will live in spiritual power.  The wicked who lived, will spend eternity in eternal death.  “While these believers may have been condemned and put to death in the realm of the flesh, there will be a great reversal in God’s judgment. God promises that believers will live in the new resurrection realm.”^[2]

“Given the immediate context, “those who are dead” refers to Christians to whom “the gospel was preached” when they were alive but who have since died. This fits with the meaning of “dead” in v. 5. Even though believers will experience physical death (i.e., they are judged in the flesh the way people are), believers who have died live in the spirit the way God does (that is, they live in heaven now, and they will live as well at the resurrection when Christ returns).”[3]

So based upon context there is little evidence that chapter 4 gives room from any interpretation that Christ preached to spiritually dead people after the resurrection; and certainly there is no suggestion of a second chance.  I would argue that 1 Peter 4 has nothing to do with 1 Peter 3 in subject.

Conclusion

Although scant there is a glimmer of evidence that the Apostles’ Creed is right.  Unfortunately 1 Peter 3 is the only place that gives that flicker, so to be dogmatic would be unwise.

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[1]Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:1 Peter/Exposition of 1 Peter/IV. The Suffering and Persecution of Christians (3:13-5:11)/C. Death to the Old Life (4:1-6), Book Version: 4.0.2

[2]Believer's Study Bible. 1997 (electronic ed.) (1 Pe 4:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[3]ESV Study Bible (Kindle Locations 153033-153036). Crossway Bibles.