◄ 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.
Study Bible
That is why the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead
This phrase suggests that the gospel message was proclaimed to individuals who have since passed away. The context of 1 Peter indicates that these individuals were likely believers who had heard the gospel during their lifetime but had since died. This aligns with the broader biblical teaching that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Romans 1:16). The preaching to the "dead" may also reflect the early Christian understanding of Christ's proclamation to the spirits in prison (1 Peter 3:19), emphasizing the reach and power of the gospel beyond physical life. This phrase underscores the hope of resurrection and eternal life, a central tenet of Christian faith, as seen in passages like John 11:25-26.

so that they might be judged as men in the flesh
This part of the verse acknowledges the reality of human judgment and suffering in the physical realm. Believers, like all people, face judgment and trials in their earthly lives. This judgment can refer to the trials and persecutions faced by early Christians, as Peter's audience was experiencing. The phrase reflects the biblical theme of enduring suffering for righteousness' sake, as seen in 1 Peter 3:14-17. It also echoes the teaching of Jesus, who warned His followers of persecution (John 15:18-20). The judgment "in the flesh" contrasts with the ultimate spiritual reality that believers are called to live by.

but live according to God in the spirit
This phrase highlights the transformative power of the gospel, which enables believers to live a new life in accordance with God's will. Living "according to God in the spirit" signifies a life led by the Holy Spirit, characterized by righteousness, peace, and joy (Romans 14:17). It points to the spiritual rebirth and renewal that comes through faith in Christ, as described in passages like 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Galatians 5:16-25. This spiritual life is not bound by physical death but is eternal, aligning with the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ (John 3:16). The contrast between judgment in the flesh and life in the spirit emphasizes the hope and assurance of salvation for believers, despite earthly trials.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Peter
The apostle and author of the epistle, writing to encourage and instruct believers facing persecution.

2. Recipients of the Epistle
Early Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, experiencing trials and needing guidance on living a godly life amidst suffering.

3. The Dead
Refers to those who have heard the gospel and have since passed away, emphasizing the eternal relevance of the gospel message.

4. God
The ultimate judge who offers life in the spirit, contrasting with human judgment in the flesh.

5. The Gospel
The good news of Jesus Christ, central to the message preached to both the living and the dead.
Teaching Points
The Universality of the Gospel
The gospel's reach extends beyond physical life, emphasizing its eternal significance and the hope it offers beyond death.

Judgment in the Flesh vs. Life in the Spirit
Believers may face judgment and suffering in the flesh, but their ultimate hope and life are found in the spirit, according to God's standards.

Encouragement in Persecution
Understanding that the gospel was preached to those now dead can encourage believers facing trials, knowing that their faith has eternal implications.

Living with an Eternal Perspective
Christians are called to live with an awareness of eternal realities, prioritizing spiritual life over temporary, fleshly concerns.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the eternal nature of the gospel impact your daily life and priorities?

2. In what ways can the contrast between judgment in the flesh and life in the spirit encourage you during times of trial?

3. How does the message of 1 Peter 4:6 provide comfort regarding loved ones who have passed away?

4. What practical steps can you take to live more according to God in the spirit, as opposed to being influenced by the flesh?

5. How can the teachings of 1 Peter 4:6 inspire you to share the gospel with others, knowing its eternal significance?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Peter 3:18-20
Discusses Christ preaching to the spirits in prison, which may relate to the idea of the gospel being proclaimed to those who are now dead.

Romans 8:10-11
Highlights the contrast between life in the flesh and life in the spirit, similar to the themes in 1 Peter 4:6.

John 5:24-25
Jesus speaks about those who hear His word and believe, having passed from death to life, resonating with the message of living according to God in the spirit.
Sermons
Cardinal TruthsJ. J. S. Bird.1 Peter 4:1-6
Christ the Grand Necessity of ManD. Thomas, D. D.1 Peter 4:1-6
Christ's SufferingsD. Thomas, D. D.1 Peter 4:1-6
Coming to JudgmentR. Finlayson 1 Peter 4:1-6
Conformity with ChristAbp. Leighton.1 Peter 4:1-6
Ecce HomoA. Rowland, LL. B.1 Peter 4:1-6
God's Win1 Peter 4:1-6
Living to God's WillU. R. Thomas.1 Peter 4:1-6
Men's Lusts Opposed to God's WillJohn Rogers.1 Peter 4:1-6
Sin PiercedJ. Trapp.1 Peter 4:1-6
The Flesh Rightly UsedG. Calthrop.1 Peter 4:1-6
The Rest of His Time in the FleshF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:1-6
The Right Use of the Residue of Our TimeD. Thomas, D. D.1 Peter 4:1-6
The Time in the FleshHomilist1 Peter 4:1-6
The Will of GodF. B. Meyer, B. A.1 Peter 4:1-6
Will of GodJohn Bate.1 Peter 4:1-6
The Persecuted Christian Reminded of the Necessity of Suffering for RighteousnessC. New 1 Peter 4:1-7
Living to the Will of GodU.R. Thomas 1 Peter 4:3-6
People
Peter
Places
Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus
Topics
Body, Cause, Dead, Flesh, Glad, Godly, Gospel, Indeed, Judged, Mankind, News, Preached, Proclaimed, Purpose, Reason, Regard, Regards, Spirit, Though, Tidings, View
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Peter 4:6

     2420   gospel
     5063   spirit, nature of
     7754   preaching
     9020   death
     9210   judgment, God's

Library
Christian Asceticism
'Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin. 2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4. Wherein they think it …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Ephesians, Peter,John

June the Twenty-Sixth Crucifying the Flesh
"Arm yourselves likewise with the same mind." --1 PETER iv. 1-8. Let not the body be dominant, but the soul. Let me study the example and counsel of the Apostle Paul. "I keep my body under." Literally, I pummel it! If it is obtrusive and aggressive, its appetites clamouring for supremacy, I pummel it! Paul was not afraid of severe measures where carnality was concerned. He would fast a whole day in order to put the flesh in its place. And so should it be with all the Lord's children. We are …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling Year

Personal Experience
In conclusion I desire to add my humble testimony of a personal experience of the glorious work of entire sanctification. At the age of seventeen years I was converted. All who were acquainted with me had no reason to doubt the genuine, inwrought grace of pardon and the new life which at once began to bring forth fruit unto God. But the one to whom this mighty change seemed the most marvelous was myself. My poor soul, which for several years had been held under the terrible bondage and darkness of …
J. W. Byers—Sanctification

The Old Man and the New.
"That we being dead unto sin should live unto righteousness."--1 Peter iv. 24. The Psalmist sings: "They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God." (Psalm lxxxiv. 7) We must maintain this glorious testimony, altho our own experience often seems to contradict it. Not experience, but the Scripture, teaches us divine truth; nor is it as tho the procedure of the divine operation in our own heart could differ from the testimony of the Sacred Scripture, but that our …
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Man's Chief End
Q-I: WHAT IS THE CHIEF END OF MAN? A: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him for ever. Here are two ends of life specified. 1: The glorifying of God. 2: The enjoying of God. I. The glorifying of God, I Pet 4:4: That God in all things may be glorified.' The glory of God is a silver thread which must run through all our actions. I Cor 10:01. Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' Everything works to some end in things natural and artificial; …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Battle with Smallpox
Soon after we began work in the city, my brother George went out to assist in a meeting at Edgewood, Iowa. A mother desired prayer for her little girl, so my brother and another minister laid hands on her and prayed for her healing. The mother said that some one thought her child was taking smallpox, but that she was sure it was a mistake. The ministers saw a few little pimples on the child's lip and asked her if the same breaking-out was on other parts of her body. The mother's answer was, "None …
Mary Cole—Trials and Triumphs of Faith

A Nickname Accepted
'The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch' --ACTS xi. 26. Nations and parties, both political and religious, very often call themselves by one name, and are known to the outside world by another. These outside names are generally given in contempt; and yet they sometimes manage to hit the very centre of the characteristics of the people on whom they are bestowed, and so by degrees get to be adopted by them, and worn as an honour. So it has been with the name 'Christian.' It was given …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts

Of Avoiding of Curious Inquiry into the Life of Another
"My Son, be not curious, nor trouble thyself with vain cares. What is that to thee? Follow thou Me.(1) For what is it to thee whether a man be this or that, or say or do thus or thus? Thou hast no need to answer for others, but thou must give an answer for thyself. Why therefore dost thou entangle thyself? Behold, I know all men, and I behold all things which are done under the sun; and I know how it standeth with each one, what he thinketh, what he willeth, and to what end his thoughts reach. …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ

Some Other Writers of the New Testament
[Illustration: (drop cap L) Ancient engraving of man reading scroll] Let us now look at the rest of the books which make up the New Testament. In the days when Paul preached at Athens, the old capital of Greece, much of the ancient splendour and power of the Greek people had passed away, for the Romans had conquered their country, and they were no longer a free nation. Yet, although the Greeks had been forced to yield to Rome, their conquerors knew that the Grecian scholars and artists were far …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

John Bunyan on the Terms of Communion and Fellowship of Christians at the Table of the Lord;
COMPRISING I. HIS CONFESSION OF FAITH, AND REASON OF HIS PRACTICE; II. DIFFERENCES ABOUT WATER BAPTISM NO BAR TO COMMUNION; AND III. PEACEABLE PRINCIPLES AND TRUE[1] ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Reader, these are extraordinary productions that will well repay an attentive perusal. It is the confession of faith of a Christian who had suffered nearly twelve years' imprisonment, under persecution for conscience sake. Shut up with his Bible, you have here the result of a prayerful study of those holy …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Wilderness State
"Ye now have sorrow: But I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." John 16:22. 1. After God had wrought a great deliverance for Israel, by bringing them out of the house of bondage, they did not immediately enter into the land which he had promised to their fathers; but "wandered out of the way in the wilderness," and were variously tempted and distressed. In like manner, after God has delivered them that fear him from the bondage of sin and Satan; …
John Wesley—Sermons on Several Occasions

Of the Power of the Church in Articles of Faith. The Unbridled Licence of the Papal Church in Destroying Purity of Doctrine.
1. The marks and government of the Church having been considered in the seven previous chapters, the power of the Church is now considered under three heads--viz. Doctrine, Legislation, Jurisdiction. 2. The authority and power given to Church-officers not given to themselves, but their office. This shown in the case of Moses and the Levitical priesthood. 3. The same thing shown in the case of the Prophets. 4. Same thing shown in the case of the Apostles, and of Christ himself. 5. The Church astricted …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

The Disciple, -- what is the Meaning and Purpose of the Cross...
The Disciple,--What is the meaning and purpose of the cross, and why do pain and suffering exist in the world? The Master,--1. The cross is the key to heaven. At the moment when by My baptism I took the cross upon My shoulders for the sake of sinners, heaven was opened, and by means of My thirty-three years bearing of the cross and by death upon it, heaven, which by reason of sin was closed to believers, was for ever opened to them. Now as soon as believers take up their cross and follow Me they …
Sadhu Sundar Singh—At The Master's Feet

Seasonable Counsel: Or, Advice to Sufferers.
BY JOHN BUNYAN. London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1684. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. THIS valuable treatise was first published in a pocket volume in 1684, and has only been reprinted in Whitfield's edition of Bunyan's works, 2 vols. folio, 1767. No man could have been better qualified to give advice to sufferers for righteousness' sake, than John Bunyan: and this work is exclusively devoted to that object. Shut up in a noisome jail, under the iron hand of …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

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