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1 Peter 1-5

1. Who are the "dead" that Peter says heard the Gospel? (1 Peter 4:6)

For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit (1 Peter 4:6).

Though this verse seems a bit puzzling at first, I think it can be understood in a straightforward way. Consider the context:

For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit (1 Peter 4:3-6).

Peter has just finished exhorting believers not to live any longer like sinful pagans. He writes that they will have to give an account to God, who will judge their evil behavior. Then Peter writes, "For this is the reason..." In other words, in view of God's judgment of sinful behavior "the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead." Who are the "dead"? In Greek "dead" is in the masculine plural and so modifies the previous third person, masuline, plural "they" and "them," who represent the sinful pagans. The gospel was preached to the sinful pagans.

To what effect? "So that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to their spirit." What does this mean? We have something similar in Paul's letter to the Corinthians regarding a certain incestuous person in the church. Paul writes,

Hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:5).

I think the meaning is the same. While the person's body (or "flesh") may be destroyed because of their sinfulness in this life, they will be saved on account of their faith in the Gospel. I think that both Peter and Paul speaks of a divine physical judgment in this life. I think this is also why Paul writes,

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Another example of this is in Paul's discussion of Communion, where some were taking it in an unworthy manner:

For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:29-32).

Notice that while Paul speaks of a judgment that results in weakness, sickness and even death (i.e. "fallen asleep" is a common euphemism for death), Paul says that this judgment is different from the final judgment of unbelievers.

Therefore, the "dead" are probably those that died as judgment for their sinful behavior; however, because they received the Gospel in faith, they too have the hope of eternal life. This is also in keeping with Peter's general theme that seeks to distinguish their present struggles from their future glory, "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade," "the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time."