1 Peter 4:6

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

4In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them in the same excesses of debauchery, and they slander you; 5but they will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as people, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God. 7The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. 8Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 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

• the gospelεὐαγγελίζομαιeuaggelizō · to speak good newsG2097
• has for thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• evenκαίkai · andG2532
• to those who are deadνεκρόςnekros · deadG3498
• they are judgedκρίνωkrinō · to judgeG2919
• in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
• as peopleἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
• they may liveζάωzaō · to liveG2198
• in the spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
• accordingκατάkata · according toG2596
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 Peter 4:6

• 1 Peter 3:19in which He also went and made proclamation to the spirits in prison,
• John 5:25Truly, truly, I say to you, a time is coming and even now has arrived, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
• 1 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because the one who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
• Matthew 24:9“Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
• Romans 8:9However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
• 1 Corinthians 11:31But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
• Romans 8:2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
• Galatians 2:19For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live for God.
• Galatians 5:25If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow the Spirit as well.
• Ephesians 2:3Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.
• Revelation 14:18Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her 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

• Commandments
• Gospel
• Holiness

In the dictionaries

• God
• Begin
• Cover
• Ungodly
• Cause
• Charity
• End
• Eschatology of the New Testament
• Hades
• Peter, Simon

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