He preached where? When?

Ready to dive into this passage? Here it is again to refresh our memories:

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. 19 After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all,were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (I Peter 3:18-22)

We've noted that Peter is talking about suffering for things that are unjust is one way to bear witness to our Father God. And he says here that Jesus Christ bore witness through His unjust suffering. The difficulties arise when people try to understand to whom Christ was to bear witness, and where, and what Christ proclaimed.
Let's dig in and see what we can find out.
Some people say that this passage means that after Christ died on the cross, He went down into Hades and preached to the people who paid no heed to Noah's warnings so long ago.

The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. (Genesis 6:5)

This interpretation says that during the interval between His death and His resurrection, He preached to them. Some even say that He gave a second offer of salvation to those who perished in the flood. Some say that He announced judgment to those who perished in the flood, and that He announced salvation to those who had trusted God.  The scholar and preacher of old, Calvin, belongs to this group of people; he espoused this interpretation.
 A second group of people take these verses to mean that Christ preached through Noah to Noah's contemporaries.
A third group thinks that Christ proclaimed His victory on the cross to fallen angels.

See what I mean? My grandma would say this is harder than putting socks on a cat. This is a difficult passage! (Grin)
Now let's try to figure out who Christ bore witness.....and try not to initiate any arguments, is my hope! There are those who contend that the word "spirits" in verse nineteen, means that these were the demons who influenced the terrible wickedness on earth in Noah's day. They believe that the word refers to non-human beings. Now, this could be -- it could be that the demons of that day were put into hell with the humans who perished, to await the final judgment of God.
I differ with that interpretation, since the very next verse refers to human-type peeps:

to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all,were saved through water, (I Peter 3:20)

I don't think that this is one of those questions that is all that important in the grand scheme of things.....it could very well be that Christ bore witness of His triumph over Satan to both humans and demons. However, I personally believe that those "fallen angels" are immortal, just as Satan is, and that they won't be confined until this happens:

The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 12:9)

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:10)

To me, these verses say that the demons and Satan will meet the same fate.... so I don't think there were any demons confined there when Christ went into Hades. I believe that these were the people toward whom God was "long-suffering" as He waited to see if they would turn from their wickedness. They didn't, and so they died in the flood while Noah and his family survived in the ark.
What about if it really means that Noah was preaching to his contemporaries? That Christ preached through Noah? This one seems very simple to me: the verse says "He went." I may be too simplistic in my faith, but I believe this means just what it says -- that Christ went to the nether world and preached there.

OK, but what did He say? Did He really give the peeps there a second opportunity? A second chance? I don't think so. Let me explain why I think that way... My commentaries tell me that the verb Peter used meant "to proclaim," or "to announce." Peter uses another verb when he speaks of proclaiming the gospel. Totally different word.
And the idea that anyone will get a second chance at salvation after they die is really foreign to the scriptures.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27)

And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. (Luke 16:22-26)

So, did He announce a second chance to those confined in Hades? I don't think so. I believe that Jesus proclaimed His triumph. He went to proclaim that the faith of Noah was victorious. After the flood, there was no one else but his family (for a while) for Noah to proclaim his faith and his victory to. So he didn't receive his vindication until Christ personally announced it. He announced judgment for some, and salvation for those who had trusted God when they were living.

Next question.....when did Christ bear witness?  Personally, I think (after studying several commentaries) the verses in Ephesians that refer to this (Ephesians 4:8-9) make it pretty clear that He descended into hell before His resurrection and ascension. The words there "lower parts of the earth" also mean "the grave" in the Greek.

So, all of this is Peter's way of explaining that our Savior bore witness through His unjust suffering. He also wants us to know that Christ was vindicated through His resurrection and ascension.
By the way, did we ever look at this three dollar word we keep using? I don't think we did....what does vindication really mean? Well, it's probably easiest to use synonyms -- to vindicate means to confirm, to justify, to substantiate, to prove.
Now let's read that again, and substitute...."he also wants us to know that Christ's claims were substantiated, confirmed, justified, proved by His resurrection and ascension."   As grandma would say, that's clearer now.

Here is why: He was raised from the dead and now is at the right hand of God, with all the spiritual powers subject to Him. Hebrews tells us "we do not yet see all things subjected to Him" (in Hebrews 2:8) but we know that the victory was won. It's just a matter of time before the outcome will be revealed! The angels said:

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

Yup. I know. We've all had to deal with unbelievers who mock us and say, "Hey, if that is really true, how come He hasn't come back yet?"  But you know what? The answer is the same as the answer was in the days of Noah. There he was, struggling with huge timbers, using tar to seal places, laying out the plans and getting his three sons to help.....and the unbelievers mocked and scoffed at him. The flood was delayed for many years, because of the patience of God. He doesn't wish for any to perish.

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (II Peter 3:8-9)

Just like the flood was delayed (but it happened), so will the second coming of our Savior be delayed for a time by the patience and mercy of God. But He won't wait forever!
It could happen today!
Tomorrow we'll make some practical applications of what we've learned from this passage....