1 Peter 3:19 (GNV)

Passage

By the which hee also went, and preached vnto the spirits that are in prison.

Nearby Context

1 Peter 3:17 For it is better (if the will of God be so) that ye suffer for well doing, then for euil doing.

1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust, that he might bring vs to God, and was put to death concerning the flesh, but was quickened by the spirit.

1 Peter 3:19 By the which hee also went, and preached vnto the spirits that are in prison.

1 Peter 3:20 Which were in time passed disobedient, when once the long suffering of God abode in the dayes of Noe, while the Arke was preparing, wherein fewe, that is, eight soules were saued in the water.

1 Peter 3:21 Whereof the baptisme that nowe is, answering that figure, (which is not a putting away of the filth of the flesh, but a confident demaunding which a good conscience maketh to God) saueth vs also by the resurrection of Iesus Christ,

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "Spirit", "went", "preached", "vnto", "spirits", and "prison". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "Spirit" and "went", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 18's "For Christ also hath once suffered for..." into verse 20's "Which were in time passed disobedient when...", so "Spirit" and "went" belong inside that flow. In 1 Peter context, the local focus is hope in suffering, holy conduct, submission, and grace.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "Spirit" and "went" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.