verse 21 sounds like a pretty solid proof text for the belief that baptism is more than just a symbolic action of one's faith and commitment to Christ. (I just preached a baptism sermon in January when the text was the baptism of Jesus - but it never hurts to revisit the topic.)
DD in CA
The commentators almost universally seem to say that verses 13-17 build quite naturally off of verse 12. That makes sense.
The commentators also say that verses 18-22 are full of problems. I agree with them, but for different reasons. Their problem is with how to interpret the business about Jesus going to proclaim to the spirits in prison. Mine is how to interpret verse 21. It seems to say that sacramentally, nothing really happens in Baptism, that it is nothing more than a symbolic rite. For a Lutheran like me, that's a problem and I'm not certain how to figure it out.
My inclination at this point is to preach on only verses 13-18, focusing on the hope given to us by Christ's death and resurrection and the implications of that hope. I "hope" that's not the coward's way out.
The, "Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence" in verses 15-16 are a good corrective to abrasive, "notch 'em up for Jesus evangelism," while still encouraging sharing one's faith.
Just a few initial thoughts.
Mark in OH
Interesting. Peter claims that Paul was the long-winded, hard-to-understand one.
Seems like there's enough obscurity to go around!!
Ducking and running... :-)
Rick in Canada, eh?
Mark in OH wrote, "It seems to say that sacramentally, nothing really happens in Baptism, that it is nothing more than a symbolic rite. For a Lutheran like me, that's a problem and I'm not certain how to figure it out."
For a liberal Anglo-Catholic Episcopalian like me, that would be difficult as well. But I don't read v. 21 as denying the sacramentality of baptism. In fact, I agree with the commentary in the New Interpreter's Bible which argues that the author of 1 Peter is contrasting baptism (which is effective) with "mere washing" (and perhaps even with circumcision) which is spiritually ineffective. In his Reflections, David L. Bartlett (author of the NIV commentary on this letter) writes: "There is a rich undersdtanding of the meaning of baptism in this passage. According to 1 Peter, the waters of baptism have symbolic or sacramental power."
There's too much material in the NIV to copy here, so Mark I refer you to it. It's good stuff.
Blessings, Eric in KS
Like all of you, I'm finding vv19-21 challenging. Goes with the territory, I guess.
One commentator, Scot McKnight, briefly touches on the three usual interpretations of Christ's going and preaching to the spirits in prison, but argues that whichever you prefer, the consistent theme is vindication:
If Peter is describing the descent of Jesus into hell after his death, then it can be said that he is vindicated through his continued ministry in spite of death.
If Peter is describing the preexistent Christ in the person of Noah then "just as Jesus endured suffering in different ways and experienced opposition to his preaching, though he remained faithful, so also the Christians Peter is addressing must remain faithful in spite of suffering."
Finally, if Peter is describing a triumphal proclamation of Christ after resurrection and before exaltation, then he is talking about the proclamation of victory over the spirit world as he ascended. This of course points again to vindication.
Ultimate vindication in the presence of God, then, would be the true motivation to endure persecution for the believer.
Aaron in VA
To me verse 21 is actually a strong statement, proclaiming that baptism is a salvific event. It washes cleaner than just the surface stuff...it cleanses completely...allowing for a clean conscience as well. Perhaps one of the problems for many today is the inablility or unwillingness to feel completely cleansed...in essence to have a really clean conscience.
Jon in So. Ill.
O.k. this ladypreacher is the oddball, I get a different message that baptism here. No Weapon prevailing against you, if you are with God. I am getting a very evangelistic message this week...God patiently waits for the few to come to Him. You know, I dont know how your altar calls are. but it seems in days like these we reach one at a time. not the crowds as in 1920-1950's. Why is that? What is different now? Has God Changed? NOT! Have we changed. In our crowded world, perhaps we need one on one attention from our Savior... God waits patiently on the few... Be fruitful and Multiply...multiply souls for the Kingdom of GOD!
Judging by the few comments on this passage, it would appear that most preachers are taking the "easy" way out and using one of the others, especially the Gospel. I haven't checked there yet, only surmising. I am not sure the focus is really baptism here. I think it has more to do with the whole question of what we have to fear if ridiculed, attacked, or just ignored because of doing doo deeds and living our faith openly. I am a student of the Second World War and wonder what I would do if I had to risk myself, my life and my family for the sake of my faith when confronted by such evil. In the relatively safe country and community we live in, we don't have to face up to that question. Consider Oscar Romero for instance, Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the many nameless people who sacrificed to save another person's life, and the list goes on. Peter tells us we have nothing to fear, but we do because we are human. Isaac Kawuki-Mukasa, of The United Church of Canada has written a sermon on this passage for "The Ministers Annual Manual" called "In God's Sight with Honour." I like how he has caught some sense of this passage and may let him be my guide in God's name. Have a good one. Rev. Tim, south central Ontario, Canada
Judging by the few comments on this passage, it would appear that most preachers are taking the "easy" way out and using one of the others, especially the Gospel. I haven't checked there yet, only surmising. I am not sure the focus is really baptism here. I think it has more to do with the whole question of what we have to fear if ridiculed, attacked, or just ignored because of doing doo deeds and living our faith openly. I am a student of the Second World War and wonder what I would do if I had to risk myself, my life and my family for the sake of my faith when confronted by such evil. In the relatively safe country and community we live in, we don't have to face up to that question. Consider Oscar Romero for instance, Martin Luther King Jr., Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the many nameless people who sacrificed to save another person's life, and the list goes on. Peter tells us we have nothing to fear, but we do because we are human. Isaac Kawuki-Mukasa, of The United Church of Canada has written a sermon on this passage for "The Ministers Annual Manual" called "In God's Sight with Honour." I like how he has caught some sense of this passage and may let him be my guide in God's name. Have a good one. Rev. Tim, south central Ontario, Canada
Sorry about the doubling up. At one time, a contributer mentioned a site that related movies to the lectionary readings. My computer crashed and I lost everything, so I need that sire again. Hope you're still listening. I could use it as I ound it a good resource. Thanks. Rev. Tim, Ontario, Canada
Hey Rev.Tim In Ontario - I tend to agree with you. My sermon is entitled "He descended in to Hell." Baptism may join us to Christ, but being joined to Christ doesn't mean life is easy and lovely. When we grow as disciples of Christ, we meet up with ridicule and scorn. We meet up with some of the true ugliness of human beings. Jesus himself expereinced that ugliness at the cross; he felt cut off from God yet he continued to love. The names you mention are good examples. Hope I come across this sermon you suggest. Reverend KJ
