1 Peter 3:16-22

1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.  We see here the reason that we should discern who’s asking about our hope and for what purpose.  A meek request is probably genuine, whereas evildoers asking are only looking to speak evil of you, to use your faith against you in a condescending or mocking manner. 

1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.  Again, Peter reiterates, if we are to suffer, better for the cause of God than the will of the flesh. 

1Pe 3:18 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:  Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 

Peter in one verse tells us of the sacrifice, the perfection of that sacrifice (just for the unjust), how guilty and vile we were, the reconciliation to God, and price required to do so: the death of Jesus in the flesh to pay for our sins, and that he was quickened – made alive by the Spirit.  Then Peter continues and gives us the verse greatly abused and misunderstood by the modern Christian world: 

1Pe 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 

Entire books have been written on this verse.  The modern Christian world would have you believe that Christ descended into hell (or an underground chamber next to Paradise) and offered all those who died under the Old Testament law an opportunity to accept or reject Him.  There are greater blasphemies and heresies taught about God’s word, but this one ranks near the top.  First, and most importantly, the only offer ever regarding Christ is from the son to the Father to reconcile us to God.  He doesn’t offer salvation to mankind.  Secondly, Peter next gives us the necessary context to identify the spirits in prison: 

1Pe3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.  How is this verse ignored in the teaching of the ‘Jesus preaching in hell’ doctrine?  He clearly gives the situational context and timing – while the ark was preparing, and says that among God’s elect, eight would be saved and all the rest were spiritual prisoners.  We know there were more than eight elect people in the world during the time of Noah and the flood.  Most were disobedient, as Peter relates.  Disobedient children are different than the non-elect.  Disobedience suggests a relationship.  When neighborhood children are acting up, they are not disobedient to me, but to their parents.  When my children are acting up, they are being disobedient to me.  The disobedience of this time in history Genesis records as evil only continually. 

1Pe 3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) The saving by water puts Peter in mind of baptism, the subject he next brings.   

It is these last few verses in the third chapter which cause us to think Peter may have been dictating his thoughts rapidly to Silvanus, whom he mentions at the end of this letter.   It does much to explain why the subjects seemed pushed together, and why two voices may be heard in the reading.  

The ark was indeed a like figure to baptism.  God’s people are timely saved in the same manner as the ark saved the eight of Noah’s family.  Saved by water.  Peter is quick to clarify that baptism doesn’t put away the filth of the flesh, but answers the good conscience given us by God.  As only a child of God can have a good conscience, given in the new birth, we know baptism doesn’t play a part in our salvation from sin or the birth from above.  It is a gospel saving, answering in thanksgiving for the work Christ has done for us.  Our conscience has been made to understand it was not by any works of righteousness on our behalf, but only by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 

1Pe 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.  At the mere mention of the resurrection of Jesus, Peter seems excited to summarize where his resurrection took him, how it positioned him, and what eternal authority and power awaited him upon that triumphant recovery from the grave.