What does it mean that Christ preached to “spirits” that were in prison?

This passage has certainly confused many people. Some say it means Christ literally descended into the depths of the earth and preached to lost souls living in limbo. But this is far from the text’s real message and gives a dangerous, faulty impression that a person can somehow still be saved after having died lost.

First, notice how Christ preached to those spirits. He did it “by the Spirit,” referring to the Holy Spirit. So whatever Christ did in preaching at this time, He did it through the Holy Spirit. When was the preaching done? “When once the Divine long-suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared.” So the preaching was actually done while the ark was being built—when Noah warned the world before the flood.

Finally, to whom was the preaching done? “To the spirits in prison.” Throughout the Bible, we find this terminology used to describe those who are bound in the prison house of sin. David prayed, “Bring my soul out of prison” (Psalm 142:7). The mission of Jesus was “to proclaim liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1). Peter here is simply telling us that it was the Spirit of Christ that preached through Noah in the days before the flood. Jesus was there, through the Holy Spirit, to speak conviction to hearts and appeal to the lost to come into the ark.

The question for you, friend, is this: “Are you a captive in Satan’s prison of sin?” Jesus, through the call of the Holy Spirit to your heart, is inviting you to receive salvation so that you can be set free.

Key Bible Texts

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18 KJV)