1 Peter 3:18-22 meaning

In 1 Peter 3:18-221 Peter 3:18-22 commentary, commentary Peter presents Jesus Christ as the example believers should follow; He is an example of patiently enduring suffering in order to please His Father and gain the great reward that awaited Him for His faithfulness. All authority was given to Him due to His faithfulness (1 Peter 3:221 Peter 3:22 commentary). Peter also adds Noah’s flood as an example. In that episode, Christ also served as a witness by the Spirit, through Noah.

1 Peter 3:18 - 4:191 Peter 3:18 - 4:19 commentary can be viewed as a unit of thought. A basic summary of the main points Peter makes in 1 Peter 3:18 - 4:191 Peter 3:18 - 4:19 commentary follow:

• Believers should follow the example of Jesus, who suffered injustice in order to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:181 Peter 3:18 commentary, 4:14:1 commentary, 1313 commentary, 1616 commentary). As a result of His faithfulness, He was rewarded by being given authority over all (1 Peter 3:221 Peter 3:22 commentary).

• Believers gain life, blessing, and glory when they suffer rejection and loss from the world for being a faithful witness, just as Jesus suffered and gained blessing and glory (1 Peter 3:221 Peter 3:22 commentary, 4:54:5 commentary, 77 commentary, 1313 commentary, 1717 commentary, 1919 commentary).

• Believers have great loss if they fail to be a faithful witness and instead indulge in the pleasures of the world. Although they are God’s children, they will still experience negative consequences for sin, including loss in the judgment of Christ (1 Peter 4:4-71 Peter 4:4-7 commentary, 1313 commentary, 17-1817-18 commentary).

• Unbelievers will be lost and experience severe judgment (1 Peter 4:18-191 Peter 4:18-19 commentary). So why would believers want to participate in their deeds? (1 Peter 4:31 Peter 4:3 commentary, 77 commentary).

Peter offers Christ as an example of suffering unjustly for doing the will of God. He explains, For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit (v. 18).

The truth that Christ also died for sins is Peter’s summary of the gospel message of Christ dying in our place to pay the price for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:31 Corinthians 15:3 commentary, commentary Colossians 2:14Colossians 2:14 commentary, commentary 1 Peter 1:18-191 Peter 1:18-19 commentary, 2:242:24 commentary). Jesus paid the price for our sins so that all who believe might be given the free gift of eternal life (John 3:14-15John 3:14-15 commentary).

The fact that Christ died for sins once for all points to a contrast with the Old Testament High Priests who had to offer a sacrificial lamb once each year for a covering of sins (Hebrews 9:11-12Hebrews 9:11-12 commentary, 2626 commentary, 2828 commentary). This would be a particular distinction noticed by Peter’s Jewish audience (1 Peter 1:11 Peter 1:1 commentary, 2:122:12 commentary). Jesus only had to die one time to pay for all sins (Hebrews 7:27Hebrews 7:27 commentary, 9:129:12 commentary, 10:1010:10 commentary, 1 John 2:21 John 2:2 commentary).

To confirm the fact of Christ dying in the place of sinners, Peter emphasizes that He was the just referring to Jesus as a perfectly righteous person, for meaning in the place of, and the unjust referring to sinful mankind (Romans 3:23-24Romans 3:23-24 commentary). The just Man died for the unjust race of men.

The goal or ultimate result of Christ dying once for all the sins of mankind is so that He might bring us to God. The pronoun He refers to Christ. The pronoun us refers to Peter, as a believer in Christ, along with his readers who were also believers in Christ (1 Peter 1:1-21 Peter 1:1-2 commentary). By application, us would refer to all of humanity (Colossians 2:14Colossians 2:14 commentary). The expression might bring us to God refers to the possibility that any sinner who believes in Christ will be brought into a permanent relationship with God as His forever child in His forever family (John 3:14-15John 3:14-15 commentary).

Peter explains that the basis for bringing sinners into a permanent relationship with God by faith is Christ having been put to death in the flesh, but having been made alive in the Spirit. This refers to Christ’s death and resurrection. But it also refers to Jesus setting aside His human desires and needs in order to walk in obedience to the will of His Father. For those who believe, His resurrection power is available to enable them to follow in His footsteps, to set aside self and follow in God’s ways.

The word For connects verse 17 with verse 18. Verse 17 says it is better for believers to suffer for doing what is right—then the connector For provides the primary example we should follow: For Christ also died for sins, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God. Jesus died for sins He did not commit; He was just because He was without sin. Yet, He died for the unjust. In doing so, He did what was right, but suffered as a result. This is the example believers should follow.

To this point, Peter has noted a number of authorities or people in positions of relational power who can cause us to suffer. This includes officials in government (1 Peter 2:131 Peter 2:13 commentary), employers (1 Peter 2:181 Peter 2:18 commentary), and spouses (1 Peter 3:11 Peter 3:1 commentary, 77 commentary). In each of these situations, we can find ourselves being treated unjustly.

Peter exhorts us to endure the injustice and return good for evil (1 Peter 3:91 Peter 3:9 commentary, commentary Romans 12:21Romans 12:21 commentary). In doing this, we might bring people to God. They might see our actions and ask us about it, providing us with an opportunity to give a defense for the hope within us that causes us to return good for evil, since we know that in doing so we receive a blessing (1 Peter 3:91 Peter 3:9 commentary, 1515 commentary).

Peter’s point to his believing audience is that believers should embrace patiently suffering injustice just as Jesus suffered. When we do this, we follow in His footsteps. Jesus’s unjust suffering brought all of humanity to God. Through our patient endurance of unjust suffering, we can bring some to God; those who ask about our faithful witness, and to whom we can “give an account for the hope” that is within us (1 Peter 3:151 Peter 3:15 commentary).

Our decisions and actions as believers have substantial consequences. When we choose to live as faithful witnesses, we bring others to God, just as Jesus suffered unjustly that He might bring us to God.

Now Peter adds another example of decisions having consequences—Noah’s flood. The people in the days of Noah saw him suffer unjustly and had the opportunity to respond because of his witness (2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:5 commentary). But only his family responded and entered the ark (Genesis 7:7Genesis 7:7 commentary). The consequence was immense; those who did not respond to Noah’s witness died in the flood and those who did respond to Noah’s witness were saved (Genesis 7:23Genesis 7:23 commentary).

Peter will apply this flood example to two categories of people: nonbelievers and believers:

• Nonbelievers:
• Those who see the faithful witness and still do not believe; they will give an account to God who will judge the dead—those who do not believe are dead in their sins (1 Peter 4:51 Peter 4:5 commentary, commentary Ephesians 2:1Ephesians 2:1 commentary). They will die and not be saved, just as those who did not listen to Noah died.

• We know from other passages the destiny for those who do not believe, those whose names are not written in the book of life; they will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary). This is the “second death” (Revelation 20:14Revelation 20:14 commentary).

• Believers:
• Believers are saved from destruction, just as Noah was saved. However, only those who die to self are made alive in the Spirit through a clean conscience (1 Peter 3:211 Peter 3:21 commentary). Those having a clean conscience will have a good judgment, since God will also judge the living (1 Peter 4:51 Peter 4:5 commentary).

• Those who believe are made alive by Christ, having previously been dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1Ephesians 2:1 commentary).
• All believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ to receive rewards for both good and bad deeds while on earth (1 Peter 4:51 Peter 4:5 commentary, 77 commentary, 2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).

• Believers who are alive in Christ but live in the flesh will not have a good judgment in terms of receiving rewards for deeds done while on earth (1 Peter 4:171 Peter 4:17 commentary, commentary 1 Corinthians 3:13-151 Corinthians 3:13-15 commentary, commentary 2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).

Peter adds the phrase having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit (v. 18b) to the first part of verse 18 (For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God).

The phrase in the flesh occurs four times in 1 Peter. All are in the unit of thought that is 1 Peter 3:18 - 4:191 Peter 3:18 - 4:19 commentary:

1. Here in 1 Peter 3:181 Peter 3:18 commentary, commentary which says Christ died for sins once for all, Peter then adds having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. Here the flesh refers to Jesus coming in human form and dying for our sins.
   
   
2. In 1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary, commentary which says since Christ “suffered in the flesh,” believers ought to also to pursue the same purpose because this leads us away from sin. Peter gives another admonition to endure suffering for being a faithful witness.
   
   
3. 1 Peter 4:21 Peter 4:2 commentary notes that when believers live their lives “in the flesh,” they are living for the “lusts of men” rather than the “will of God.” Here “the flesh” refers to the fallen nature that is within the body of each person.
   
   
4. 1 Peter 4:61 Peter 4:6 commentary says the gospel is preached to humans who are “dead”. Although humans have been judged “in the flesh” they can be raised to “live in the spirit according to the will of God.” The “gospel” is that humans can be delivered from death through the resurrection power of Jesus.

We can see that flesh is used both to refer to humans in bodily form as well as humans in the state of being fallen and dead in sin. Jesus was without sin. So, when 1 Peter 3:181 Peter 3:18 commentary says Jesus was put to death in the flesh, it must refer to His death on the cross.

1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary states Jesus “suffered in the flesh,” meaning He suffered while living on earth, in a human body, learning obedience even to death on the cross (Philippians 2:8-9Philippians 2:8-9 commentary). He endured rejection and shame but was undeterred in His resolve to do the will of His Father (Hebrews 12:2Hebrews 12:2 commentary).

1 Peter 4:21 Peter 4:2 commentary speaks of believers who choose to live in a manner consistent with our old, fallen nature rather than the new nature we are given when we are born again (2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17 commentary). This use of “in the flesh” refers to living in the “lusts of men” rather than the “will of God.” This speaks of the fallen state of humanity. The good news of the gospel includes a deliverance from the destructive power of sin in our daily lives; through the resurrection power of Jesus we can overcome the negative consequences of the Fall of Man through walking in obedience. But that blessing comes through following the suffering of Jesus, living as a faithful witness and enduring opposition of a world that is hostile to righteousness.

1 Peter 4:61 Peter 4:6 commentary speaks of the condemnation that came upon all of humanity due to the Fall. All humans have been judged “in the flesh.” All of humanity is like the people living before the Flood, oblivious to their looming destruction and the need for salvation. That is until they hear the gospel, realize their need for deliverance, and believe. Those who believe, those who “get in the ark” that is faith in Christ will be saved from destruction. Believers are given the Holy Spirit, and can “live in the spirit according to the will of God” (1 Peter 4:61 Peter 4:6 commentary).

Scripture tells us Noah suffered unjustly for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 24:37-38Matthew 24:37-38 commentary, commentary Hebrews 11:7Hebrews 11:7 commentary, commentary 2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:5 commentary). Referring to the Spirit of Christ, Peter tells us, in which (or “in whom”) referring to the Spirit of Christ, also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison (v. 19).

This means Jesus went in the spirit to make proclamation. He did not go in person, as He did when He came to earth as a human. He made proclamation to those who were destroyed in the Flood in the spirit, likely meaning He did it through the agency of Noah, who was living in obedience to the Spirit.

In this manner, the Spirit of Christ made a proclamation to spirits now in prison, referring to those who did not believe Noah’s message and did not respond to the illustration of deliverance through the building of the ark. These spirits died in the flood and are now in Hades, which is prison. They heard Noah’s message and did not believe. When they heard Noah’s message and saw his faithful witness in constructing the ark, they were hearing a proclamation from the Spirit of Christ.

Revelation 20:7Revelation 20:7 commentary says Satan will be kept in “his prison” for a thousand years after Jesus returns to earth and sets up His physical kingdom (Revelation 19:11-16Revelation 19:11-16 commentary). We get a description of Hades from Jesus’s parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31Luke 16:19-31 commentary). It is a place where those who did not believe while living on earth dwell in torment.

Revelation 20:14Revelation 20:14 commentary tells us that at the end of this era Hades, will be thrown into the lake of fire, indicating that Hades is a temporary place. It is like an earthly prison in that those dwelling there are awaiting their final judgment (Revelation 20:11-13Revelation 20:11-13 commentary). The lake of fire is the final destination for unbelievers whose name is not written in the book of life (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary).

Peter identifies these spirits in Hades as humans who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is eight persons, were brought safely through the water (v. 20).

It is common for people to presume this text supports an idea that between the death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, He went to hell to preach the gospel and give those there a second chance to believe in Him. This is in spite of the fact that Jesus told the thief on the cross “today you shall be with Me in paradise.” Jesus’s pronouncement that He would go to paradise that very day would counter the idea that He went to the compartment of Hades reserved for those in torment.

Further, an interpretation that this means Jesus went to Hades to preach to those who died in the flood does not fit the context. Peter would be saying “You should endure suffering for injustice gladly because Jesus went to hell to preach to people who died during the flood.” This would mean Peter offered an illustration that was disconnected from his point.

The better interpretation is to see this episode as an illustration of the immense consequence that accompanies each person’s decision of what to believe. Those who believed Noah’s message lived. Those who did not died. In like manner, walking in obedience to Christ brings great reward while following the ways of the world leads to destruction.

The text states directly that the patience of God kept waiting during the construction of the ark in the days of Noah. This tells us that the disobedience being spoken of is what took place while the ark was being built. The spirit of Christ spoke through Noah to the people living in his day when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah. God patiently waited for the people to believe in Him by believing His message given through Noah (2 Peter 2:52 Peter 2:5 commentary). But they did not believe.

Because they were disobedient and did not believe, they perished in the flood. Accordingly, at the time of Peter’s writing, their spirits were now in prison meaning they were and are confined in Hades awaiting judgment (Revelation 20:11-14Revelation 20:11-14 commentary). These people died in their disobedience, and as a result of their disobedience they are still in Hades awaiting judgment as unbelievers.

The principle is that the result of disobedience is judgment, both in this life as well as in the next. Those living in disobedience during the days of Noah did not give proper thought to the consequence of their disobedience. Those who did not believe Noah’s witness died in this life and will be judged in the next. For those who do not believe in Jesus, the judgment is eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15Revelation 20:15 commentary).

Noah’s family, however, did believe and entered the ark. Peter tells us eight persons were brought safely through the water. This illustrates that there is a present reward for those who walk in faith, and that is life (Revelation 22:17Revelation 22:17 commentary). The idea of a present reward for faithfulness is taught throughout the New Testament:

• John said he wrote his gospel not only so people would believe in Jesus and gain the gift of eternal life, but also so that by “believing you may have life in His name” indicating that living a life of faith brings “life in His name” as a present reward (John 20:31John 20:31 commentary).

• Jesus said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life” (John 6:63John 6:63 commentary). This tells us that living God’s word gives us the experience of life and following the flesh leads us to experience the consequence of sin, which is death. Death is separation, as with a spirit separating from a physical body (James 2:26James 2:26 commentary). To live in the flesh is to be separated from God’s good design for us. The consequence of sin is separation from what is good (Romans 1:24Romans 1:24 commentary, 2626 commentary, 2828 commentary).

• Paul said to the believers in Rome, “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace” (Romans 8:6Romans 8:6 commentary). This indicates that when we think the thoughts of the Word and follow its commands we are connected with God’s design for us, as well as being connected to Him in fellowship, which is life. To walk in the flesh disconnects us, which is death.

• The book of James is written to believers. James 1:14-15James 1:14-15 commentary says that all our temptations come from within us. We decide to sin, then sin, and sin becomes death. We are separated from the blessings God has for us. The answer is to set aside the flesh and replace it with the “word implanted” which can save us from this current experience of death (James 1:21James 1:21 commentary).

Hebrews 11:7Hebrews 11:7 commentary notes that Noah built the ark to save his household, being moved with godly fear after being divinely warned. The building of the ark also served as a divine warning to the rest of the world. But the people went about their business without any concern, meaning they took no notice of the warning (Matthew 24:38Matthew 24:38 commentary). Accordingly, they perished.

Peter ends his reflection on Noah’s deliverance from the flood waters by means of the ark by saying, corresponding to that, baptism now saves you (21a).

The words corresponding to that translate the Greek word (“antitypon”) from which we get our English word “antitype.”

Peter is thinking in terms of a type and antitype. This type-antitype is likely not water, because it was not water that delivered Noah and his family—it was the ark. The type-antitype is the ark and our spiritual baptism into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:131 Corinthians 12:13 commentary).

When a person believes in Christ, he is spiritually baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:2-4Romans 6:2-4 commentary). This saves us from judgment of sin, because Jesus took all the sins of the world upon Himself when He died on the cross (Colossians 2:14Colossians 2:14 commentary).

When Peter declares, corresponding to this baptism now saves you, he has in mind the believer’s spiritual baptism into the Body of Christ that saves you from the negative consequences of sin in our daily lives (now). The resurrection power of Jesus is available to aid us to walk apart from sin in our daily decisions when we avail ourselves of that power through faith. Peter confirms this by adding not the removal of dirt from the flesh.

Since Peter’s audience is Jewish, they would have grown up being baptized on a routine basis. The Jews practiced baptism for purification as a part of their religious rituals. Archaeology has discovered over 50 “mikvehs” near the temple mount in Jerusalem. A mikveh is a ritual bath. What is believed to be the high priest’s home in Jerusalem has been excavated and they found a ritual bath in his home.

By adding not the removal of dirt from the flesh, Peter emphasizes to the readers that he is not thinking of religious ritual when he speaks of baptism. Peter is thinking of an inner cleansing that results in a good conscience before God. That cleansing comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we are placed into Christ and made new creations when we believe and are born again (1 Corinthians 12:131 Corinthians 12:13 commentary, commentary Galatians 3:27Galatians 3:27 commentary, commentary 2 Corinthians 5:172 Corinthians 5:17 commentary, commentary John 3:5John 3:5 commentary, 14-1514-15 commentary). Thereafter, it is through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can live by the Spirit and receive cleansing of our consciences when we sin (1 John 1:91 John 1:9 commentary, commentary Hebrews 10:19-22Hebrews 10:19-22 commentary).

Even though it is by simple faith in Jesus that believers are saved from the eternal death of being separated from relationship with God, we can still experience negative consequences when we sin. When believers choose to walk in our old nature rather than our new nature, we get a resulting behavior that is a fruit of the flesh rather than the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-23Galatians 5:19-23 commentary). The fruits of the flesh disconnect us from fellowship with ourselves, God, and others; death is separation, so this is a form of death. When we walk in the flesh, we soil our conscience (Titus 1:15Titus 1:15 commentary).

The fruit of the Spirit connects us with ourselves, God, and others. Connection is life. When all things work according to their design, the life is maximized. When we walk in obedience to Christ, we set aside the lust of the world and walk in our design, which leads to us experiencing the gift of life we received when we believe.

Being in Christ is like being in the ark; we are permanently saved from being separated from having a relationship with God; we become His forever child upon belief. However, to have ongoing fellowship with God requires walking in His ways.

This daily decision whether to obey the Spirit or the flesh might be considered as continually deciding between “ark” and “flood,” where “choosing ark” is walking in the power of God’s spirit and “choosing flood” is sinning without regard to the consequences. A part of the consequence of sin is looming judgment (2 Corinthians 5:102 Corinthians 5:10 commentary).

When we as believers have godly fear, like Noah, and walk in obedience in order to be saved from the adverse consequences of sin, it is like being delivered from the flood in terms of our daily walk.

When we as believers walk in the Spirit, we are saved from the flood of dissipation which is sin (1 Peter 4:41 Peter 4:4 commentary). Peter follows this type-antitype comparison with the verses immediately following by exhorting the believers receiving his letter to recognize that “the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries” (1 Peter 4:31 Peter 4:3 commentary).

Believers can approach God to gain a good conscience because when they believed in Christ, they were spiritually baptized into His death and resurrection (Romans 6:2-4Romans 6:2-4 commentary). Because believers are in Christ, we have Jesus as our High Priest. Therefore, we can “draw near” to God “with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22Hebrews 10:22 commentary). This relationship we have comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (v. 21c).

Forty days after the resurrection of Christ, He ascended back into heaven (Acts 1:3Acts 1:3 commentary, 99 commentary) Peter confirms that it is the resurrected Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels, authorities and powers had been subjected to Him (v. 22).

Peter reveals three things about the present location and authority of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus is now at the right hand of God, referring to ruling authority (Mark 16:19Mark 16:19 commentary, commentary Acts 2:33Acts 2:33 commentary, 7:567:56 commentary, Romans 8:34Romans 8:34 commentary, commentary Ephesians 1:20Ephesians 1:20 commentary, commentary Hebrews 10:12Hebrews 10:12 commentary). Jesus was rewarded with the authority to rule over all because of His faithful obedience (Philippians 2:8-10Philippians 2:8-10 commentary, commentary Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18 commentary). Through the “suffering of death,” Jesus was “crowned with glory and honor” by being give dominion over the earth, the dominion that humanity lost due to the Fall (Hebrews 2:6-9Hebrews 2:6-9 commentary).

Jesus was rewarded as the “Son” for His faithful service, consistent with the ancient custom of superior rulers granting adoption to those who served them faithfully (Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 commentary). He was already the Son as the Son of God, but He was awarded the title of “Son” as a human to reign over the world. In doing this, Jesus redeemed humanity and allowed us to be restored to our original design. Jesus desires to bring “many sons to glory” to share His reign (Revelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary).

Believers who “endure” as faithful witnesses will be rewarded to reign with Jesus (2 Timothy 2:122 Timothy 2:12 commentary). They will reign upon the earth when Jesus restores the world through His kingdom (Revelation 5:10Revelation 5:10 commentary). Peter will say in the next verse, “Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose” (1 Peter 4:11 Peter 4:1 commentary).

Peter also says in the next chapter, “The end of all things is near” (1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7 commentary). He wants the believers to whom he writes to consider their actions in this life in light of their impact on the next. Jesus endured suffering and was without sin. Peter exhorts us to follow in His ways, and share in His “purpose” and rewards.

Peter describes Christ as having gone into heaven, referring to the eternal dwelling place of God (also called the 3^rd heaven—2 Corinthians 12:32 Corinthians 12:3 commentary). The Bible refers to three places as heaven: the atmospheric heaven where birds fly and rain falls (James 5:18James 5:18 commentary), the stellar heaven of the universe (Psalm 19:1Psalm 19:1 commentary), and finally the eternal dwelling place of God (Matthew 16:19Matthew 16:19 commentary, commentary 2 Corinthians 12:32 Corinthians 12:3 commentary). He dwells there, but will return, as Peter reminds his readers in the next chapter (1 Peter 4:71 Peter 4:7 commentary) and in his second letter (2 Peter 3:10-132 Peter 3:10-13 commentary).

Jesus Christ has been granted all authority over heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18Matthew 28:18 commentary). However, He has not fully assumed that authority to reign directly. As He said to Pilate, His kingdom is (currently) not of this world (John 18:36John 18:36 commentary). A time is soon coming when Jesus will assume a direct reign over all (Revelation 11:5Revelation 11:5 commentary). But Jesus has assumed full and direct authority over angelic beings, as Peter says after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.  (Ephesians 1Ephesians 1 commentary.20-23, Philippians 2:9-12Philippians 2:9-12 commentary, commentary Colossians 2:14-15Colossians 2:14-15 commentary, commentary Hebrews 1:6Hebrews 1:6 commentary).

At the current time, humans have a choice whether to bow their knee to Jesus as king. In the future, all will be compelled to bow (Philippians 2:9-10Philippians 2:9-10 commentary). It appears that this has already transpired in the angelic realm of angels and authorities and powers. Satan is still being allowed to function on the earth. But a time is coming when he will be caught and thrown in prison (Revelation 20:2Revelation 20:2 commentary). Then after being released for a time, Satan will ultimately be thrown into the lake of fire as his eternal dwelling (Revelation 20:10Revelation 20:10 commentary).

Peter exhorts believers to follow the example of Christ. He suffered unjustly on earth yet experienced a great reward in heaven, being granted to reign over all. So it will be for all who follow in His ways. As the Apostle Paul states:

“[believers are] fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”
(Romans 8:17bRomans 8:17b commentary)

To be glorified with Christ is to share in His reward, to be a “fellow heir” which is His delight (Revelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary). Peter exhorts believers to adopt this mindset and endure hostility from the world for doing right. In the next chapter he continues this same basic line of thought.