the spirit of Christ in the prophets (1 Peter 1:11)

This verse has led some to question why ‘the Spirit of Christ’ rather than just the more normal New Testament phrase ‘the Holy Spirit’ for inspiration of these particular prophecies:

“inquiring about the time and circumstances that the Spirit of Christ within them indicated when it testified in advance to the sufferings intended for Christ and the subsequent glory.” (1 Peter 1:11 NRSV)

This is only the second time in the Bible where the phrase occurs, the other being Romans 8:9

“But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” (Romans 8:9 NRSV)

Just as Paul’s reason for that term in Romans 8 has its own special context, the answer for 1 Peter 1:11 probably lies in the close and personal connection of the Messianic prophecies to the prophets’ own dependence on these same sufferings and glorification of Christ by God to their own personal prospects for eventual resurrection and salvation. Remember that Peter stating this in 1:11 is a preliminary argument to elevating himself and the other apostles over the Old Testament prophets in the following verse 12:

¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in regard to the things that have now been announced to you through those who brought you good news by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look! (1 Peter 1:12 NRSV)

This is confirmed when Peter repeats this comparison in the first chapter of his next letter where Peter places the three apostles who witnessed the Transfiguration as having a higher level of revelation than the Old Testament prophets and over angels also.

¹⁶ For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. ¹⁷ For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. ²⁰ First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, ²¹ because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. (2 Peter 1:16-21 NRSV)

Verse 19 says it clearly – Peter and the apostles had a surer and clearer prophetic message than the Old Testament prophets.

Note – we are not going in this answer to address the side question that some have attempted to make 1 Peter 1:11 a proof that Jesus existed before birth. Such an idea would only be an afterthought of someone already basing their case on what they consider stronger verses for that idea, so we leave that for users of this questions archive to use the search box.