THE SPIRITS IN PRISON by John G. Matteson

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 12, 1877

THE SPIRITS IN PRISON.

By John G. Matteson

THE apostle Peter testifies of Christ, that he was “put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: by which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing.” 1 Pet. 3:18-20.

Many suppose that Christ preached to these spirits while he laid in the tomb. The following considerations show, that this supposition is wrong:—

1. The word preach is used many times in the Scriptures. It always refers to proclamation of the word of reconciliation. 2 Cor. 5:19. And after the resurrection of Christ it refers specially to the proclamation of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Those that preach, “bring glad tidings of good things.” Rom. 10:15. The sum of Paul’s preaching was, that Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day. 1 Cor. 15:3-5. This he calls the gospel or the glad tidings. Paul preached Jesus and the resurrection. Acts 17:18. He preached that Christ had risen from the dead. 1 Cor. 15:12. But Christ could not preach the glad tidings of his resurrection from the dead while he still lay in the tomb. He had to burst the gates of hades before he could bring others out with him.

Those who came out with Christ from hades were not rebellious sinners from the days of Noah. They were saints. Matt. 27:52. And they were no doubt the same saints, that ascended with him, when he returned to his Father. Eph. 4:8.

2. Christ preached to the spirits while they were disobedient and in prison. There was no need of preaching to them or keeping them in prison when they were no longer disobedient or had become reconciled to God. Perhaps you suppose that they were also disobedient after the days of Noah? But the Scriptures do not say so. Therefore you do not know anything about it. They were disobedient in the days of Noah. And a preaching for reformation must necessarily occur while the people are disobedient.

3. There is no instance in the Holy Scriptures showing that the gospel is preached when the longsuffering of God is past. But the text states plainly that “the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah.” When the flood came, the time of grace had passed for those who hardened their hearts against the warning preaching of God through Noah.

4. Sheol is translated “grave” in Eccl. 9:10. The same word is many times translated “hell” in the Old Testament. None can deny that this sheol is the “hell” in which Christ remained while he was in the tomb. Acts 2:27, 31. But in this sheol or realm of the dead “there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom.” Eccl. 9:10.

5. Christ did not preach personally to these disobedient people, but by his Spirit. 1 Pet. 3:19. This was the Spirit that quickened him. Verse 18. None can deny that this is the same Holy Spirit which strove with the disobedient spirits or people in the days of Noah. Gen. 6:3. “The Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh; yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years.” If the Lord has once declared, that his Spirit should not strive with these disobedient persons any longer than until the flood, then the Spirit, of Christ, which is the same as the Spirit of God, could not afterward strive with them again in direct contradiction to the word of God. This point cannot easily be contradicted.

Then how and when did Christ preach to these spirits?

He preached by his Spirit through Noah, who was a “preacher of righteousness.” 2 Pet. 2:5. This was done while the spirits were disobedient, while the longsuffering of God waited, while the Spirit of God strove with man, in the days of Noah. The wicked were then in prison or reserved unto the judgment of the flood. In the same manner the wicked who now live are “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” 2 Pet. 3:7.

JOHN G. MATTESON.