1 Peter 3:19

1 Peter 3:19

By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

a. NLT: So he went and preached to the spirits in prison—

b. NIV: After being made alive,fn he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—

c. YLT: in which also to the spirits in prison having gone he did preach,

d. Amplified Bible: in which He also went and preached to the spirits now in prison,

e. Worrell Translation: in Whom,  also, going, He preached to the spirits in prison

1. “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.”

a. by [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]

b. which [3739 * hos, including feminine he, and neuter ho] [Strong: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article 3588); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc.]

c. also ][2532 * kai] [Strong: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

d. he went [4198 * poreuomai] [Strong: middle voice from a derivative of the same as 3984; to traverse, i.e. travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.); --depart, go (away, forth, one's way, up), (make a, take a) journey, walk.]

e. and preached [2784 *  kerusso] [Strong: of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):--preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.] [Thayer: to be a herald, to officiate as a herald, to proclaim after the manner of a herald, always with the suggestion of formality, gravity and an authority which must be listened to and obeyed, to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done, used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it, made by John the Baptist, by Jesus, by the apostles and other Christian teachers.]

f. unto the spirits [4151 * pnuema] [Strong: from 4154; a current of air, i.e. breath (blast) or a breeze; by analogy or figuratively, a spirit, i.e. (human) the rational soul, (by implication) vital principle, mental disposition, etc., or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ's spirit, the Holy Spirit:--ghost, life, spirit(-ual, -ually), mind.]

g. in [1722 * en] [Strong: a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.]]

h. prison [5438 * phulake] [Strong: from 5442; a guarding or (concretely, guard), the act, the person; figuratively, the place, the condition, or (specially), the time (as a division of day or night), literally or figuratively:--cage, hold, (im-)prison(-ment), ward, watch.]

1). The following are a few opinions regarding this passage, the first from ICR is one of my favorites and fits into my personal thoughts.   

a) Institute Of Creation Research Daily Devotional 2/10/15 Just who were these imprisoned spirits to whom Christ preached when He had been “put to death in the flesh”? This has been a controversial verse, so one should not be dogmatic in discussing it…One point often overlooked is that the word “spirits” can apply to angels as well as human beings. In fact, when it occurs in the plural, as it does here, it refers specifically to angels in at least 26 of its 30 occurrences. This strongly suggests that these were evil spirits to whom Christ was (literally) “proclaiming” the victory He had won over Satan when He had “once suffered for sins” on the cross (the same word is translated “proclaimed” in Luke 12:3—“proclaimed upon the housetops”). These fallen angels had tried to corrupt all flesh “in the days of Noah” (1 Peter 3:20; see Genesis 6:1-4, 12), and therefore had been cast “down to hell” and “delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment” (2 Peter 2:4).

But as Peter had preached on the day of Pentecost: “His soul was not left in hell... This Jesus hath God raised up” and “hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:31, 32, 36). Thus, He is now our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom some day soon “every knee should bow, . . . in heaven, and. . . in earth, and . . . under the earth” 0Philippians 2:10). HMM

b). Liberty Commentary on the New Testament: “By which also he went and preached” connotes the agency of the Holy Spirit if we retain the AV translation, “by the Spirit” (verse 18). In this view, maintaining the continuity between verse 18 and verse 19, the same Holy Spirit who raised Christ from the dead had enabled him to preach to the men of Noah’s day through Noah himself. While this interpretation fits the context and is legitimate by twentieth century standards, it does require some juggling of one’s natural understanding of the original text. The alternate interpretation is to understand that before the resurrection someone “made alive” the human spirit of Jesus so that in this form He preached to the spirits in Hades. This interpretation has problems too; for example, the content of the preaching is supposed to be an announcement of victory rather than the preaching of the gospel message, but the wrong word is used (Gr kerysso). Also according to 4:6, the gospel is preached to the dead, and the word there definitely means “preach the gospel” or “evangelize” (Gr euangelizomai).

(1) I like Liberty’s Commentary concerning the alternative view. “The alternate interpretation is to understand that before the resurrection someone “made alive” the human spirit of Jesus so that in this form He preached to the spirits in Hades.” The alternative interpretation is exactly what I believe, but the “someone” I believe is the Holy Spirit

c). I believe that Christ was quickened by the Holy Spirit after the price for our sin was paid and afterward went and preached to spirits in prison. These spirits were the fallen angels of Noah’s day. Frankly, I don’t see why both interpretations can’t be true.

2). In the next verse the Scripture identifies who these beings were and when they lived on earth.