1 Peter 3:18-22 — The Righteous for the Unrighteous

READ

1 Peter 3:18-22

explore:

v.18a

  1. The word “For” in the beginning of v.18 connects it to the prior section; how does v.18 relate to v.13-17? How does this change how you read a verse like v.14 or v.17?

  2. How would the implications of v.18 be changed if the word once was omitted? (Hebrews 10:10-14 provides more theological context)

  3. How would v.18—or the entire Christian faith for that matter—be altered if v.18 stopped after the word “once”? i.e. What does Peter say the purpose of Christ’s suffereing was, and how would things be different in your life or the world if Christ didn’t suffer for anything?

v.18b-22

  1. What do you think Peter’s reason is for including v.19-22? Think about the context of Peter’s readers and the purpose of his letter.

  2. What does Peter say baptism corresponds to (v.21)? What commonalities are there between baptism and Noah and the ark?

  3. Why else do you think Peter references Noah? Think about what Peter’s readers (and we) have in common with Noah’s situation.


apply

  1. Christ the righteous, suffered for you, the unrighteous. How does this affect your attitude toward those you deem “unrighteous”?

  2. Since Christ suffered once for you, and you now have a magnificent and permanent verdict before God, how does this change your daily relationship with God? How does it change how you work and interact with coworkers/friends?

  3. Knowing Christ is supreme over everything in the world (v.22) and you are in union with Him (v.21), how does this help you handle uncertainty, fear, etc.?

  4. It’s difficult to fully experience the blessings of v.18-22 without living in such a way that you’re persecuted for righteousness’ sake (v.14). How might God be encouraging you to live confidently for Him, in a way that may invite scrutiny from others yet simultaneously push you into the joys of identifying with Jesus?


Pray

  • for one another, our church, our city

optional exploration, v.18b-22:*

  1. Below are three common understandings of who the “spirits in prison” are in v.19. Which seems like the best understanding for you and why?

    1. The spirits are disobedient humans who lived during the time of Noah who are now in hell and Jesus went to proclaim the gospel to them between His death and resurrection.

    2. The spirits are the disobedient humans of Noah’s day to whom Christ preached through Noah before the flood. (ex. similar to Eph 2.17 when Paul tells the Ephesians “Christ preached to you”…Christ didn’t do it via His physical body but through other human beings)

    3. The spirits are fallen angels who stirred up wickedness in Noah’s day (cf. Gen 6:2) to whom Christ proclaimed His victory over them and sin.

  2. Looking at the immediate context, what phrase in 3:22 might correspond to spirits in prison who formerly did not obey?

  3. How might Colossians 2:15, 2 Peter 2:4-5, Jude 1:6, Revelation 20:1-3 help you interpret the meaning of spirits in prison?

  4. Do you have an interpretation of this section that’s different from what the above verses may imply? Why/why not?

*some of these questions adapted from “1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ” by Jen Wilkin

Doxology Admin