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Did Christ Preach to Spirits in Hell?

Did Christ go to hell after he was crucified and preach to spirits?

No.

The idea that Christ went to hell after his crucifixion and preached to spirits is a doctrine of man, not God. You will find this only in the creeds of man. After Christ was crucified he was dead! He was in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights, just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea creature (Matthew 12:40). But some might argue, "His body was in the earth. But his soul was preaching in hell."

This argument contains two myths: the immortal soul myth and the hell myth.

"By which also he went and preached to the spirits in prison" (1 Peter 3:19). One might argue, "What about this scripture? Doesn't this indicate Christ was speaking to the spirits?"

Christ spoke to the spirits that were in a condition of restraint.

"And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day" (Jude 1:6).

Christ was the Logos (the Word) before He was ever born as a human (John 1:1-7).

The spirits are angels that have fallen. Otherwise they would have no need that Christ preach to them. What is the time frame? We are not told. The only time reference given is the time of Noah (1 Peter 3:20).

"For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast [them] down to hell (Greek "tartaroo" - a condition of restraint) and delivered [them] into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth [person], a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly" (2 Peter 2:4-5).

God allows angels freedom of choice. However at a certain point in time (the example given is, of course, the time of Noah) in order to maintain the angelic balance of power, the Father will place them in restraint so they cannot hinder his plan for humankind. Also however the Son has preached to them to see which ones can be allowed limited freedom (those angels that repent of their evil). Christ is willing to do such a thing even when the odds are 99 to 1 (Matthew 18:12 and Luke 15:3).

The plan of God will be fulfilled through freedom of choice and divine limitation of power for the spirits.

-- wilyelder