Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 1 Peter 4:6

"For unto this end was the gospel preached even to the dead, that they might be judged indeed according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit." — 1 Peter 4:6 (ASV)

The interpretation of this verse is often linked to 3:19, but the vocabulary of the text and its context differ. There are four main interpretations of the “dead” in this passage (cf. comment on 3:18–22). (1) Christ, while in his three-day death, went and preached salvation to all the dead, offering salvation to those who lived in pre-Christian times. (2) Christ, while in his three-day death, went and preached salvation to the just of OT times. (3) The apostles and others on this earth preached the Gospel to those who were spiritually dead. (4) The dead are Christians, who had the Gospel preached to them and who then died (or were put to death). Our interpretation falls in line with this fourth option.

“For this is the reason” points ahead to the rest of the sentence rather than looks back to vv.1–5. The coming judgment will not only bring sinners into account (v.5) but will also reverse the judgments of human beings (v.6). The Good News had been proclaimed to those (Christians) who are now dead. Even though pagans might condemn Christians and put them to death in the realm of the flesh, yet in God’s judgment there will be a reversal. Christians will live in a new realm, the spiritual realm.