John Calvin 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)

For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, or, He has been evangelized to the dead. We see in what sense he understands the former passage in the third chapter: namely, that death does not prevent Christ from always being our defender.

It is then a remarkable consolation to the godly that death itself brings no loss to their salvation. Though Christ, then, may not appear as a deliverer in this life, yet His redemption is not void or without effect, for His power extends to the dead.

Since the Greek word is ambiguous, it may be translated in either the masculine or neuter gender. However, the meaning is almost the same: that Christ was made known as a redeemer to the dead, or that salvation was made known to them by the gospel.

But if the grace of Christ once reached the dead, there is no doubt that we also shall share in it when we are dead. We then set limits for it that are far too narrow if we confine it to the present life.

Concerning the phrase That they might be judged, I omit the explanations of others, for they seem to me to be very remote from the Apostle’s meaning. This was said, I believe, by way of anticipation, because one might object that the gospel is of no benefit to the dead, as it does not restore them to life. Peter concedes part of this objection, yet in such a way that they are not deprived of the salvation obtained through Christ.

Therefore, in the first clause, when he says, that they might be judged in the flesh, according to men, it is a concession. 'Judged' here means, as often elsewhere, 'condemned'; and flesh is the outward man.

So the meaning is that, though according to the world's estimation the dead suffer destruction in their flesh and are considered condemned as to the outward man, they nevertheless do not cease to live with God, and that in their spirit, because Christ gives them life by His Spirit.

But we should also add what Paul teaches us in Romans 8:10, that the Spirit is life; and thus He will eventually absorb the remnants of death that still cling to us. The sum of what he says is that though the condition of the dead in the flesh is worse, according to man, it is enough that the Spirit of Christ revives them and will eventually lead them to the perfection of life.