Where Did He Go?

 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.” (1 Peter 18-20 ESV)

A complex and often disputed text, 1 Peter 3:18-20 speaks of Jesus in the Triduum Mortis or three days of death. Peter proclaims Jesus was made alive or resurrected, descended to Sheol, and proclaimed His glory to the “Spirits in Prison.” Sheol is the Hebrew place of the dead.

There are opposing beliefs about this text, and it has always been highly debated in theological circles. First, let's look at this specific part of the Apostle’s Creed: “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.” If John Calvin is correct, the Apostle’s Creed is “a summary of our faith, in complete detail.”[1]

Theologian Andrew Bandstra wrote that the use of the Greek verb in this text for the word proclaimed indicates Christ was proclaiming His triumph over death and sin to the generation of Noah who had died in flood. This same verb is used in the Greek in Jesus' ministry when we proclaimed the Gospel. This belief in preaching to the souls from Noah’s time was noted by theologians D.N. Campbell and Fika van Rensburg, who used early church writings to come to this conclusion. I believe if this did happen it was to proclaim His glory. We all know there is no conversion after death.

Calvin, to explain why saved spirits would be έν φυλακή (in prison), downgraded prison to a watchtower where godly spirits awaited their promised salvation. Conversely, Campbell and van Rensburg note there is an opposite interpretation where Christ preaches condemnation to Noah’s contemporaries. This is quite possible as well. When we look at Matthew 27:51-53, Matthew wrote, “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. This verse does seem to indicate what we know: At the resurrection, Christ opened the door to heaven for all. Those who were resting in peace waiting for the resurrection of the dead and those alive who placed their faith in Christ. Many still hold to the “resting in peace” of the dead. I believe this passage provides a basis for the argument that, despite the Catholic belief in purgatory (a church money maker with indulgences) and the “rest in peace” mentality, when we die, we are brought before the Lord, no stops, no waiting; we stand judgment.

Theologian Keith Johnson used Calvin, who proposed, “Christ could not have descended into hell to proclaim salvation to the righteous dead because there are no righteous dead.” [2] Calvin states that 1 Peter 3:19 should not be taken literally; rather, it implies that “Christ’s death penetrated to the dead.” Calvin submitted that for Christ’s death to be effective, he had to die both a spiritual and physical death.

We do not know about the Triduum Mortis, and quite frankly, it is inconsequential. Christ died for our sins. He rose from the dead, defeating death and providing assurances of the same for those who have faith in Him. Regardless of whether Christ descended to hell, preached, or proclaimed, His resurrection and fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan remain the foundation of the modern church.   

Peace and Grace!

     [1] John Calvin, as cited by Keith L. Johnson,“ He Descended into Hell” Institute for Faith and Learning Easter Article, Baylor University, Easter 2014, 29.

     [2] Keith L. Johnson,“ He Descended into Hell” Institute for Faith and Learning Easter Article, Baylor University, Easter 2014, 30.