1 Pet 3:19:
Being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
1 Peter 3:19. by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in
prison,
Being put to death “in the flesh,” that is, as man; but made alive “by
the Spirit,” as God. By “Spirit” is understood God, and by “flesh,” man.
Concerning the first, the Evangelist bears witness when he narrates that
Christ, the true Wisdom, speaking with the Samaritan woman, said: “God is
Spirit,” and concerning the second, all of Holy Scripture bears witness. Hence
it is clear that Christ is dual—not in Person, but in nature. The phrase “by
whom” stands for “because of which.” For having said that He died for us, the
unjust, the Apostle goes on to say that He also preached to those held in
Hades. Coming to this point, the Apostle needed to explain how Christ’s death
was beneficial for those who died before Him, and to resolve the question: if
the Lord’s incarnation was for the salvation of all, what salvation did those
who had died earlier receive? He answers both points at once, was for the
salvation of all, what salvation did those who had died earlier receive? He
answers both points at once, saying that Christ’s death accomplished both: the
hope of resurrection through His rising, and the salvation of those who had
died before. For those who lived righteously in their lifetime then received
salvation through the Lord’s descent into Hades, as Saint Gregory believes. He
says; “Christ, having appeared to those in Hades, did not save all
indiscriminately, but only those who believed.” For it was up to each one’s
will (a reason demanded) not to remain insensible to the rich gift of the
Creator, but to present himself as worthy of the Giver’s goodness. (The
New Testament Commentaries of Saint Theophylact of Ohrid, 3 vols. [trans.
Dean Marais; Based Books, 2025], 3:303)
1 Pet 4:6:
1 Peter 4:6. For this reason
the Gospel was preached also to those who are dead,
Some of the ancient Fathers interpreted
the words “the Gospel was preached also to the dead” as a distinct section,
paying no attention to their connection with the preceding words—that is, not
seeing this as a reason for what came before. But these words should be understood
causally. Yet they interpreted it separately, in this way: that the Scripture
calls “the dead” people of two kinds—either those who have died in their sins,
who have never known life, or those who have conformed themselves to the death
of Christ and have died to this world, that is, to worldly desires, and live
unto Christ alone, as Paul says: “and the life which I now life in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God.” Thus, they say, those who have died in this
way for Christ judge themselves in the flesh for the former careless and
scattered life, and live in the spirit, that is, a life in imitation of Christ.
For the condemnation of their former conduct makes them more watchful and
concerned for the present. Such is their interpretation. Another might approve
this explanation, yet the passage is still not fully clarified. Since it was
earlier said about those in Hades that “He preached to the spirits in prison,”
this present statement, expressed as a reason, must be understood in that
context, and not taken as a new saying. Therefore we say: since the Apostle previously
said: “to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead,” and to this one might
object: where are the living judged, and where the dead?—he confirms it by what
was already said: that He preached even to the spirits in prison, and that this
preaching was judgment—that is, condemnation. Those who were conscious of the
virtuous life, when Mercy appeared, immediately united themselves to Him; but
those who were evil were filled with shame at His appearing and received condemnation.
That is what it means that He is Judge “of the dead.” He is Judge “of the
living”: when the Lord came into this mortal life, men found in His coming condemnation
for themselves. Some, being good, eagerly received His teaching; others, being
evil, rejected the truth and shut their own eyes to it. Therefore it is said: “for
judgment I have come into this world.” Thus Christ is Judge of the living and
the dead.
that they might be judged
according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
“Judged in the flesh.” The full
meaning is this: when the Lord visited in Hades, some who had lived in the
flesh, were condemned, and others, who had lived spiritually, either rose
together with the Lord—for “many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep
were raised”—or were enlivened with good hope. (Ibid., 3:305)
