Response to Universal Reconciliation Opposition - Part 5

This is the fifth in a mini-series of posts responding to the arguments offered by Dr Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum (Dr Arnold) against God's plan to eventually reconcile and save all His creation.

His arguments against Universal Reconciliation (UR) are offered under five headings, the first of which is a. The Scriptures Used. (see a previous post "Opposition to Universal Reconciliation" here)

Under the a. The Scriptures Used heading Dr Arnold quotes five (carefully selected) texts that he claims teachers use to prove the truth of a second probation, as Dr Arnold calls it.

He says, Basically they point to five passages of Scripture ... The fifth passage is a combination of 1 Peter 3 : 19 with 4 : 6, which speaks about the gospel being preached ... to the dead. Since it is preached ... to the dead, then it must mean a second probation.

Christ then preached to the spirits that were being kept in prison.
[1 Peter 3 : 19  CEV]
The good news has even been preached to the dead, so that after they have been judged for what they have done in this life, their spirits will live with God.
[1 Peter 4 : 6  CEV]

Dr Arnold's objection is extensive, so I will break it into several parts and address each separately.
First, let me confess I am not a Greek scholar. My understanding of the Greek New Testament relies on the publications of reputable Greek scholars, with my starting point being the literal English translations of the New Testament published by them. (The literal New Testament translations I use are listed below.)

Dr Arnold begins ...
as to their comparison of 1 Peter 3:19 with 4:6, they are ignoring the fact that these are two different contexts.
Mmmm. Let's see.
Paul is using the particular (the lost in Noah's day) as an example of the general, so they have a genuine connection.

continues ...
In 3:19, the Greek word for "preaching" here is not the word that means, "to preach the gospel", "to evangelise" or "to get people saved". It is a different word keirusso that simply means "to proclaim". 
Actually kierusso just means to herald or proclaim or preach. So it could be used to proclaim anything, including the gospel.
In fact the epistles use this same Greek work (or its derivatives) to describe Paul's ministry of doing just this.

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages,
[Romans 16 : 25  NET]
... the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald (a proclaimer) and an apostle ...
[1 Timothy 2 : 5 - 7  NIV]

So proclaiming the good news is not precluded by the use of this Greek word, but indeed is used that way by Paul.

then ...
A proclamation not to save them, but a proclamation to condemn them.
My goodness! 
An assertion not based on Biblical or even philosophical support, but based solely on the previously-determined theological position of Dr Arnold.

Based on Paul's use of the word above, the proclamation is more likely a continuation of Jesus' earthly ministry when ...

... Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
[Matthew 4 : 17, 23  NRSV]
As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations.
[Mark 13 : 9 - 10  NRSV]
... the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him (Jesus). Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
[Luke 4 : 17 - 19  NIV]

This Greek word is used most frequently throughout the Scriptures to proclaim or to preach or to herald God's good news.

and ...
Furthermore, it was made to one group of spirits, those who were disobedient in Noah's day.
These two verses are open to several interpretations so I would not place great weight on them, in isolation, to be evidence of God's plan to save all creation.
However, the story of the spirits that are specifically mentioned in 3 : 19 - 20 is linked to the verses in chapter 4 with "therefore", indicating that the wider application in chapter 4 is using Noah's "disobedients" as an illustration of what might happen to all other "disobedients".

and finally ...
In 4:6, the Greek wording means, that the Gospel had been preached to those while they were still alive but had now passed away.
Dr Arnold's interpretation cannot be supported by any correct translation (like CEV above), and especially literal ones (like DBH below).

Because it was for this that the good tidings were proclaimed to the dead, that though judged in the flesh according to human beings they might live in spirit according to God.
[1 Peter 4 : 6  DBH]

Dr Arnold's insertion of "now" before "passed away" is very naughty and designed to grossly change the meaning of the verse - and it is also inserted in some modern versions of the New Testament by translators who hold the same position as Dr Arnold.

In any case it was described as "the good news" or "the good tidings" or "the gospel" - depending on which translation you are using.
You could hardly construe the good news to be "A proclamation not to save them, but a proclamation to condemn them."
What a shocking description of the gospel Dr Arnold claims was being preached!

We always need to keep

All things come from God, through God, and return to God. Praise him for ever! Yes, it is so!
[Romans 11 : 36  WE]

in mind to alert us to verses of Scripture misquoted or misinterpreted by those endeavouring to deny God's wonderful plan for His creation.

Blessings, Barry

Literal English New Testaments I most frequently use.

YLT - Young's Literal Translation (Public Domain)
CLV - Concordant Literal New Testament (Concordant Publishing Concern)
DBH - The New Testament - A Translation - David Bentley Hart (Yale University Press)