O
Ozzie
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Greg McPherran:
Though this is an obscure passage it is still quite apparent that it is not referring to “souls” who are being kept in a penitentiary-of-suffering called "Purgatory, " but rather just as it states, a “prison” designed to lock up disobedient, rebellious “spirits.”
The passage in context says that Jesus "died for sins (plural) once for all, the Just for the unjust, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (or, Spirit) in which he made “proclamation” to those “spirits” now in prison. The word “proclamation” is the Greek word “kerussein,” which means to “proclaim,” and therefore should not be interpreted as “preached” (Gr. euangelizein, meaning “to herald good tidings,” like an evangelist). Some contend (like Karl Keating) that He “preached” the gospel to those incarcerated “spirits” and took them to Heaven with Him (erroneously referencing Eph. 4:8 as a parallel passage). But based on what is described in this specific passage, it is far more likely that Jesus proclaimed His triumph over evil through the cross to these rebellious “spirits” - not preach the gospel to them. And it is far more likely that these “spirits” are still in “prison” awaiting final judgment and to be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Bottom line, it is impossible to exegetically derive the time-developed doctrine of “Purgatory” from this obscure passage. Those who claim they do read that nonbiblical doctrine INTO it.
First of all, some things should jump right out at you. They are called “spirits,” not “souls.” Men are not generally referred to in the N.T. as “spirits,” but “souls” (ex. Acts 2:41; 1 Pet. 1:22; Rev. 20:4). However, angels are always referred to as “spirits,” whether good or bad. These happen to be disobedient “spirits” and are in “prison” (locked up) having been there ever since the days of Noah. These are specific “spirits” who were disobedient at a specific, horrendous, evil time in human history, when only eight humans were considered righteous in God’s sight. The rest were destroyed by water. Believe me, those unrighteous men who were destroyed in the flood did not go to some “Purgatory” in order to be “spruced-up,” in need of a “final polishing,” for their entrance into Heaven.
Though this is an obscure passage it is still quite apparent that it is not referring to “souls” who are being kept in a penitentiary-of-suffering called "Purgatory, " but rather just as it states, a “prison” designed to lock up disobedient, rebellious “spirits.”
The passage in context says that Jesus "died for sins (plural) once for all, the Just for the unjust, having been put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit (or, Spirit) in which he made “proclamation” to those “spirits” now in prison. The word “proclamation” is the Greek word “kerussein,” which means to “proclaim,” and therefore should not be interpreted as “preached” (Gr. euangelizein, meaning “to herald good tidings,” like an evangelist). Some contend (like Karl Keating) that He “preached” the gospel to those incarcerated “spirits” and took them to Heaven with Him (erroneously referencing Eph. 4:8 as a parallel passage). But based on what is described in this specific passage, it is far more likely that Jesus proclaimed His triumph over evil through the cross to these rebellious “spirits” - not preach the gospel to them. And it is far more likely that these “spirits” are still in “prison” awaiting final judgment and to be cast into the Lake of Fire prepared for the Devil and his angels.
Bottom line, it is impossible to exegetically derive the time-developed doctrine of “Purgatory” from this obscure passage. Those who claim they do read that nonbiblical doctrine INTO it.
