Bible Strands
1 Peter 4:6
That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged as men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Peter addresses dispersed believers facing persecution, situating this teaching between a warning about final judgment and an exhortation to prayerful sobriety. He explains the doctrine immediately after noting that all must give an account to God and before declaring that the end is near.
The words — The text highlights νεκροῖς (nekrois), literally "to the dead," and εὐηγγελίσθη (euēngelisthē), literally "it was evangelized." These terms anchor the statement that the gospel message was proclaimed to those who have physically died.
The thread — This proclamation to the dead parallels the preaching to imprisoned spirits in 1 Peter 3:19 and the future resurrection hearing in John 5:25. It also connects to the freedom from death's power described in Romans 8:2.
Why it lands — The text states that the gospel was preached to the dead so they might be judged in the flesh but live according to God in the spirit. A reader must recognize that physical death does not nullify divine judgment or the possibility of spiritual life before God.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Romans 8:2 For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.
- 1 Peter 3:19 in whom He also went and preached to the spirits in prison
- John 5:25 Truly, truly, I tell you, the hour is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.
- Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the flesh, but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
- Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, fulfilling the cravings of our flesh and indulging its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature children of wrath.
- Titus 3:3 For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, and enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures—living in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
- Matthew 24:9 Then they will deliver you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.
- Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.
- 1 Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves with the same resolve, because anyone who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
- 1 Corinthians 11:31 Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment.