God’s Word Translation
1 Peter 4:6
6After all, the Good News was told to people like that, although they are now dead. It was told to them so that they could be judged like humans in their earthly lives and live like God in their spiritual lives.
1 Peter 4:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
- New International Version (NIV)For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Context of 1 Peter 4:6
4Unbelievers insult you now because they are surprised that you no longer join them in the same excesses of wild living. 5They will give an account to the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. After all, the Good News was told to people like that, although they are now dead. It was told to them so that they could be judged like humans in their earthly lives and live like God in their spiritual lives. 7The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other warmly, because love covers many sins.
Read all of 1 Peter 41 Peter 4:6 word by word
εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ καὶ νεκροῖς εὐηγγελίσθη, ἵνα κριθῶσιν μὲν κατὰ ἀνθρώπους σαρκί, ζῶσιν δὲ κατὰ θεὸν πνεύματι.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- Forγάρgar · forG1063
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
- this causeοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- was the gospel preachedεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- to them that are deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- they might be judgedκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
- according toκατάkata · according toG2596
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- butδέde · thenG1161
- liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- in the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
Cross-references for 1 Peter 4:6
- 1 Peter 3:19In it he also went to proclaim his victory to the spirits kept in prison.
- John 5:25“I can guarantee this truth: A time is coming (and is now here) when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who respond to it will live.
- 1 Peter 4:1Since Christ has suffered physically, take the same attitude that he had. (A person who has suffered physically no longer sins.)
- Matthew 24:9“Then they will hand you over to those who will torture and kill you. All nations will hate you because you are committed to me.
- Romans 8:9But if God’s Spirit lives in you, you are under the control of your spiritual nature, not your corrupt nature. Whoever doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ doesn’t belong to him.
- 1 Corinthians 11:31If we were judging ourselves correctly, we would not be judged.
- Romans 8:2The standards of the Spirit, who gives life through Christ Jesus, have set you free from the standards of sin and death.
- Galatians 2:19When I tried to obey the laws in the Scriptures, those laws killed me. As a result, I live in a relationship with God. I have been crucified with Christ.
- Galatians 5:25If we live by our spiritual nature, then our lives need to conform to our spiritual nature.
- Ephesians 2:3All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God’s anger just like everyone else.
- Revelation 14:18Yet another angel came from the altar with authority over fire. This angel called out in a loud voice to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle, and gather the bunches of grapes from the vine of the earth, because those grapes are ripe.”
Commentaries on 1 Peter 4:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Was the Gospel preached also to them that are dead - This is a most difficult verse; the best translations I have seen of it are the following: - "For this indeed was the effect of the preaching of the Gospel to the dead, (the unconverted Gentiles), that some will be punished as carnal men; but others, (those converted to Christianity), lead a spiritual life unto God." - Wakefield. "For this purpose hath the Gospel been preached even to the dead, (i.e…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6For, for this cause - The expression, “For, for this cause,” refers to an end to be reached, or an object to be gained, or a reason why anything referred to is done. The end or reason why the thing referred to here, to wit, that “the gospel was preached to the dead,” was done, is stated in the subsequent part of the verse to have been “that they might be judged,” etc. It was with reference to this, or in order that this might be, that the gospel was…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Peter refers to people who are now dead but heard the good news about Jesus when they were alive. He is not teaching that people have a chance to repent after death. If these people responded with faith when they heard the message, they can trust God. Even though they had to die like all people, they will live forever with God in the Spirit.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. For--giving the reason for 1Pe 4:5, "judge the dead." gospel preached also to ... dead--as well as to them now living, and to them that shall be found alive at the coming of the Judge. "Dead" must be taken in the same literal sense as in 1Pe 4:5, which refutes the explanation "dead" in sins. Moreover, the absence of the Greek article does not necessarily restrict the sense of "dead" to particular dead persons, for there is no Greek article in 1Pe 4:5…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 4:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 4
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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