2. Theological Seminary : Projects, Theses and Dissertations

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Browsing 2. Theological Seminary : Projects, Theses and Dissertations by Subject "1 Peter 3:18–22"

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    Preaching to the Spirits in Prison: An Exegetical Study of 1 Peter 3:18–22
    (Adventist University of Africa, 2016-08) Baidoo, Elijah
    First Peter 3:18-22 has been considered one of the most difficult passages both doctrinally and linguistically. Its puzzling nature has motivated many to study it. The main concern has been the meaning of the expression preaching to the spirits in prison and the use of Noah’s flood story in Peter’s discourse in this passage. The study sought to exegetically study 1 Peter 3:18-22 with the focus on the identity of the preaching to the spirits in prison in 3:19 and how the use of the flood should be understood in this context. The study addressed three key questions including: Who are the spirits in prison that Christ preached to in 3:19? What was the content of the preaching and the location of the spirits in prison? The study reveals that Peter’s interest is shown in using the OT background to develop his theme as other New Testament authors do. He draws a parallel between the flood that saved the antediluvians and baptism symbolizing Christ’s resurrection which now saves believers and lead them to God. The author uses Noah’s flood argument as a symbol to develop the theme of Christ’s suffering. He gives the reason for His suffering and the blessing it accomplishes; leading believers to God by the introduction of the purpose clause ἵνα ὑμᾶς προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ (in order to lead us to God). The study shows that the leading to God (προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ) could be attained after Christ’s bodily resurrection. Hence, the leading to God is connected to the spirits in prison in 3:19. The recipients of the preaching may not be the disobedient whose God’s patience waited for in the days of Noah’s in 3:20 but the spirits in prison in 3:19. It appears that there is no syntactical and contextual relationship between the spirits in prison and the disobedient in Noah’s day. The study suggests a figurative understanding of 1 Peter 3:18-22, where prison here possibly refers to the bondage of sin of the former sinful state of the believers. Therefore, the spirits in prison should be construed metaphorically to represent sinners who were helpless and imprisoned and were preached to by Christ being empowered by the Spirit after his bodily resurrection. The content of the preaching was therefore in connection with the idea of leading to God and hence salvific in nature.