For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the [a]spirit; 19 in [b]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the [c]water. 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God [d]for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Skip to I Peter 4:6...For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who were dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
Here lies some verses that are not well understood. Jesus after his death is said to have gone to Hades and preached or made proclamation to the imprisioned spirits. Lots of interpretations. Catholics believe until the death of Jesus, people were held in a place waiting for Jesus to come and allow them access to the Father. It makes sense that if when people died, and would go to heaven or hell after death, why would the death of Jesus be necessary? Others think this means he made proclamation to fallen angels his victory over sin.
I wonder if we do not put Jesus in a box too small. Have we all not wondered what happens to good Buddists who died at the same time Christ walked the earth? How could they go to hell because no one had preached to them the gospel of Christ? I will say this. I DON'T KNOW. I do know God is a just and loving God. I have complete faith, He has this figured out. What I think may not be true, but I think if you did not have the gospel preached, your spirit is imprisoned. I think Jesus died for everyone and somehow his gospel will be preached to all imprisioned spirits. It is still our choice to accept or reject Him and the Holy Spirit who draws us to God. Bible scholars, Greek scholars are all very smart people and will disagree, but guess what folks, God is God. Our small pea brains can't begin to comprhend the greatness of our God.
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