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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.

Context of 1 Peter 4:6

4They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 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. 7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over 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

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 3:19After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits—
• John 5:25Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.
• 1 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin.
• Matthew 24:9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.
• Romans 8:9You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
• 1 Corinthians 11:31But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.
• Romans 8:2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
• Galatians 2:19“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.
• Galatians 5:25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
• Ephesians 2:3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
• Revelation 14:18Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its 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