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.

1 PETER 4:6KJV
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1 Peter 4:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Peter 4:6 mean?

1 Peter 4:6 says that the good news was preached to people who are now dead so that death, as people see it, would not be the end of their story. Though they faced judgment in bodily life, the verse speaks of their living according to God in the spirit.

The sentence follows the mention of judgment in verse 5. The contrast between “in the flesh” and “in the spirit” places human judgment alongside life as God sees it. Christians differ over whether “the dead” heard the good news before or after death.

The Greek behind 1 Peter 4:6

  • “preached” — εὐαγγελίζω (euangelizō): This word means to announce good news. In this verse, “preached” carries the sense of announcing a message, not simply giving a speech.
  • “judged” — κρίνω (krinō): This word can mean to judge or pass judgment. Here the contrast with “live” helps show why the mention of judgment does not exhaust what Peter says about the dead.

Why 1 Peter 4:6 matters

  • The verse connects judgment with hope beyond what people can see. “Judged according to men in the flesh” stands alongside “live according to God in the spirit.”
  • The surrounding passage gives the contrast a setting of hostile treatment. In verse 4, others speak evil of Peter’s readers; verse 6 places human judgment beside God’s view of life.
  • The timing of the announcement is a key question for reading the verse. “Was the gospel preached” refers to a past announcement, while “them that are dead” identifies the people in relation to death.

Where else these words appear

“preached” Greek G2097 · used in 52 verses

  • Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
  • Acts 10:36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ:(he is Lord of all:)
  • 2 Corinthians 10:16 To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.

“judged” Greek G2919 · used in 98 verses

  • Matthew 5:40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
  • Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
  • 1 Corinthians 6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

“dead” Greek G3498 · used in 123 verses

  • Matthew 8:22 But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
  • Acts 3:15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
  • 1 Corinthians 15:35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?

“live” Greek G2198 · used in 127 verses

  • Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
  • Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.