This last verse in this section describes the ascension and exaltation of Christ. Has gone to heaven recalls the verb (he went) in verse 19. If in verse 19, the verb refers to Christ’s going down into the place of the dead, here it refers to Christ’s going up into heaven to be with God. Is at the right side of God (literally “right hand of God”) is a metaphorical expression referring to the bestowal of the highest dignity, honor, power, and even the highest function, which in this case is ruling with God. Angels and heavenly authorities and powers taken together include all spiritual or superhuman beings which in Judaism were believed to be able to influence and affect human life. The fact that they are now subject to Christ emphasizes his absolute power over all spiritual forces, both on earth and in heaven. Such a message would have had tremendous meaning for that handful of Christians who, because of the difficulties they were encountering, could have easily doubted or forgotten that Christ has indeed been and continues to be victorious over all evil powers.

If it is necessary in verse 21 to alter somewhat the order, especially of the last clause, then it may be important to begin verse 22 as a separate sentence and make Jesus Christ the subject, for example, “Jesus Christ has gone to heaven….” In a number of languages any expression concerning “going to heaven” must indicate direction, for example, “going up into heaven,” and heaven may often be translated as “the abode of God” or even “where God dwells.”

Even though the expression at the right side of God is essentially figurative in meaning and refers to a favored position, it is generally necessary to keep the literal form in view of the fact that in so many contexts the “right side” is contrasted with the “left side,” though of course in some cultures it is the left side that is the side of honor rather than the right side. This may require some type of footnote to indicate clearly the significance of the “right side” in the Semitic tradition. However, in some languages at the right side of God is rendered as “at the honored side of God” or “at the place of honor beside God.”

A literal rendering of God, ruling over all angels … might mean that only God is spoken of as ruling over all angels. The meaning, of course, is that Christ is the one who, at least together with God, rules over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers. It may therefore be important to introduce the final participial phrase of verse 22 as a separate sentence, for example, “there he rules over all angels and heavenly authorities and powers.”

In a number of languages angels are spoken of as “messengers from heaven” or even “heavenly messengers.”

There may be some difficulties involved in a strictly literal translation of heavenly authorities and powers, since this might suggest authorities and powers which were actually in heaven as the abode of God. Such authorities and powers are also spoken of as being “in the sky,” and therefore it may be more satisfactory in this context to speak of “authorities and powers in the sky.” In reality, of course, the Greek text itself does not have a word specifically corresponding to heavenly. These authorities and powers were simply the supernatural forces which were believed to affect the lives of people, either for good or for ill. Sometimes, therefore, heavenly authorities and powers may be rendered as “those spirits in the sky who have authority and power.” In some languages, however, the addition of “in the sky” would imply that these beings have no authority over the people here on earth. In these languages, heavenly authorities and powers may be rendered as “supernatural beings who have authority and power” or “spiritual beings who have authority and power.”

Quoted with permission from Arichea, Daniel C. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on The First Letter from Peter. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .