18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all time, 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 He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who at one time 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. (1Pet3:18-20).
Moving on to 1Pet3, and as ever I am not providing a systematic commentary but focussing on text that has direct relevance to the broader benign providence I have been outlining. This has been placed in context in the above abstract (verses 18-20).
Easter Saturday
Having referred to the event we celebrate on Good Friday (v18), Peter moves on to what many understand to be the events of the day between Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection, His descent into Hell (cf. Eph4:9). That is, that through the mercy of God, the bulk of humanity alive at the time of the Flood who ignored Noah’s warning and perished have subsequently received a proclamation of hope from Jesus Himself. Likewise, as Peter indicates in the next chapter (4:6) do all the dead have opportunity to hear the Good News so that although having been punished in the flesh “they might live according to God in the spirit”.
Where’s the problem?
This is (for many) another “problem verse” that becomes thoroughly intelligible once one understands the context of gospel salvation within God’s broader reconciliatory plans. But firstly, in terms of divine justice, these imprisoned spirits were given the opportunity to repent and acknowledge Christ’s lordship; they were not to be betrothed as His eternal Bride, nor did they escape punishment, for in the case of these prediluvians they had been imprisoned for centuries.
The eluded context
The key point relates to the context of gospel salvation within God’s broader salvific plans for humanity. That happens to be the core subject matter of “The Little Book of Providence” and these posts pertaining to it. A proper understanding is required of what gospel salvation is from and what it primarily is for. The former can be summarized in one short statement of Paul – Rom7:24-25; its purpose also in Rom8:29 and its eschatology in Rev5:10. Those verses and their context certainly take some explaining (see full verses and related posts below). Once their wondrous implications have been grasped, then no question should remain regarding the relevance and urgent need to preach the gospel to the living with regard to Peter’s teaching here that those who failed to hear or respond positively to it in life should be given hope and the possibility of repentance in death.
The focus of the bible
A related point is that the bible does not set out the totality of God’s plan for His creation but concerns His stratagem for the reconciliation of a people to Himself to act, in Peter’s words, as His royal priesthood. Canonical scripture therefore focuses on the key structures and players within that Plan: Jesus Christ, Israel and the Church, whilst God’s rationale and intentions towards the rest of humanity have, in accordance with God’s purposes and timing, remained something of a mystery (cf. Enoch ch93 v10).
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Quoted texts and related posts
Rom7:24-25a “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of THIS death? 25 Thanks be to God (it is) through Jesus Christ our Lord!
Related post: https://richard-777.blog/2020/10/29/the-body-of-this-death/
Rom8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren”
Rev5:9b-10 “You purchased people for God with Your blood from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You have made them into a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”
Related post: https://richard-777.blog/2023/01/19/what-salvation-means/
Enoch93:10(Charles numbering): “And at the close (of the seventh “week”) shall be chosen the elect righteous of the eternal plant of righteousness, to receive sevenfold instruction concerning all His creation”.
Related post: https://richard-777.blog/2022/03/21/the-apocalypse-of-weeks/
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The Little Book of Providence 