New King James Version
1 Peter 3:18
18For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
1 Peter 3:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
- New International Version (NIV)For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
- New Living Translation (NLT)Christ suffered for our sins once for all time. He never sinned, but he died for sinners to bring you safely home to God. He suffered physical death, but he was raised to life in the Spirit.
Context of 1 Peter 3:18
16having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. 17For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, 19by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, 20who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
Read all of 1 Peter 31 Peter 3:18 word by word
ὅτι καὶ Χριστὸς ἅπαξ περὶ ἁμαρτιῶν ἔπαθεν, δίκαιος ὑπὲρ ἀδίκων, ἵνα ὑμᾶς προσαγάγῃ τῷ θεῷ, θανατωθεὶς μὲν σαρκί, ζῳοποιηθεὶς δὲ πνεύματι,Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·μένmen · on the other handG3303
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- alsoκαίkai · andG2532
- hathπάσχωpaschō pathō penthō · to sufferG3958
- onceἅπαξhapax · onceG530
- forπερίperi · aboutG4012
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- the justδίκαιοςdikaios · justG1342
- forὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
- the unjustἄδικοςadikos · unjustG94
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- he might bringπροσάγωprosagō · to bring nearG4317
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- to Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- to Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- being put to deathθανατόωthanatoō · to killG2289
- in the fleshσάρξsarx · fleshG4561
- butδέde · thenG1161
- quickenedζωοποιέωzōopoieō · to make aliveG2227
- by the Spiritπνεῦμαpneuma · spirit/breath: spiritG4151
Cross-references for 1 Peter 3:18
- 1 Peter 2:21For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
- 1 Peter 4:1Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
- Isaiah 53:4Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.
- Romans 5:6For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
- Romans 8:3For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
- 2 Corinthians 5:21For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- Galatians 1:4who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
- Galatians 3:13Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),
- Hebrews 9:26He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
- Zechariah 9:9“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.
- Matthew 27:19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
- Acts 3:14But you denied the Holy One and the Just, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,
- Acts 22:14Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth.
- James 5:6You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.
- 1 John 1:9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
- Ephesians 2:16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Christ also hath once suffered - See the notes on Romans 5:6; Hebrews 9:28; (note). Put to death in the flesh - In his human nature. But quickened by the Spirit - That very dead body revived by the power of his Divinity. There are various opinions on the meaning of this verse, with which I need not trouble the reader, as I have produced that which is most likely.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18For Christ also hath once suffered for sins - Compare the notes at 1 Peter 2:21. The design of the apostle in the reference to the sufferings of Christ, is evidently to remind them that he suffered as an innocent being, and not for any wrong-doing, and to encourage and comfort them in their sufferings by his example. The reference to his sufferings leads him 1 Peter 3:18-22 into a statement of the various ways in which Christ suffered, and of his ultimate…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 14-22Verses 14-22 We sanctify God before others, when our conduct invites and encourages them to glorify and honour him. What was the ground and reason of their hope? We should be able to defend our religion with meekness, in the fear of God. There is no room for any other fears where this great fear is; it disturbs not. The conscience is good, when it does its office well. That person is in a sad condition on whom sin and suffering meet: sin makes suffering…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18He suffered physical death (literally death in the flesh), but he was raised to life in the Spirit (or in spirit). Flesh and spirit are often contrasted in Scripture (for example, Romans 7:5–6; 8:2–11). In this passage, flesh refers to ordinary human life, and the Spirit refers to the new realm that began through Christ’s death and resurrection. Christ died in the old realm and was brought to life in the new realm.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. Confirmation of 1Pe 3:17, by the glorious results of Christ's suffering innocently. For--"Because." That is "better," 1Pe 3:17, means of which we are rendered more like to Christ in death and in life; for His death brought the best issue to Himself and to us [Bengel]. Christ--the Anointed Holy One of God; the Holy suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust. also--as well as yourselves (1Pe 3:17). Compare 1Pe 2:21; there His suffering was brought…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Peter 3:18
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Peter 3
- 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
- Family Bible 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries